If you’ve got 14 minutes and want to get a good overview of what is behind SOPA and PIPA and why they’re a really bad idea, check out this talk from Clay Shirky who’s opinions and writing I respect immensely.

While we’re finishing off the mix on Wendi, couldn’t help but be pretty stoked by the fact that Frustration is now generating over 1,000 views a week on YouTube.

Check it out…

Free members of music2work2 can download Frustration along with the rest of the Writer’s playlist.

Brain Hub That Links Music, Memory And Emotion Discovered |bit.ly/x2VCNj

— Andrew McCluskey (@music2work2) January 6, 2012

Back from Australia – what an amazing Country – expensive as hell but full of some of the nicest people on the planet – will be going back as soon as we can.

I’m already head down and working to finish Wendi – lots of listening over the last couple of weeks opened a few doors and plenty of progress is being made. We shot some fantastic video and stills of sunrise at Byron Bay which will be used in the video – more on that later this week.

But before we get into anything too music2work2 – here’s a video from Paris – from my cousin Alexandre (he’s the awesome dude in the silver lame shirt!) – I can’t get the hook out of my head and it puts a permanent grin on my face. So – if you looking for a feel good track and you wanna “get down with the funk!” – here’s Dropize..

Going on a 2 week hiatus – well – not exactly hiatus – I’m going to Australia!

Yes, it’s time to get the hell out of the northern hemisphere winter and descend into southern hemisphere summer. Expect sonic influences along the lines of didgeridoos and bouncy Kangaroo themes on my return!

Just to get you (and me) in the mood, here’s a little Australian development I did for an Aussie friend a few years back – it’s a variation on Waltzing Matilda – music2work2 style!

Download audio file (spidey.mp3)

See you on the other side…

Latest stories from the music2work2 curated page on how music affects us

Click on any image or story that interests you…

Had almost forgotten this video – it’s the kid that makes it.

We were out hustling the new tracks – always thought this track had a chance:

Part of keeping on top of music2work2 means that Charlotte and I spend a little time every day curating a page over on
Scoop.it on the effect of background music. We are interested in the psychology and science behind what is going on when we are listening to music and the positive effects that listening to music can have on seemingly every part of our lives.

We publish the latest stories using this groovy little widget. Click on any image or story that interests you…

I love the saxophone – whether it’s Baker Street or Just the Way You Are – Lisa Simpson or Charlie Parker – there’s something about the instrument which is just – excuse me – fucking cool.

Born To Run

Clarence Clemons died this weekend and I’ve been thinking about his music; his playing touched me and made me smile. I remember being blown away by Born to Run – the album cover: this dude with a telecaster – clean and white – simple typesetting – a handful of songs and a big ass black dude with a saxophone. I sat up half the night listening to it

And the music; strings, guitars, stunning piano playing, that amazing horn and the stories…the stories were pure genius. I wanted to be the Rat, I wanted to be the Poet, I sure as hell wanted the girls and ended up marrying a Wendi.

I fell over laughing listening to New York City Serenade from The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. The first three minutes of that song let me be a piano player in a rock band – it enabled me to pursue music in a way that made sense to me. David Sancious – and Bruce Springsteen – thank you too!

Bat Out Of hell

This Sunday morning’s playlist included Bat out of Hell; if you haven’t listened to it for a while – go take 45 minutes out of your day and crank it up – Paradise by the Dashboard Light taught me everything I needed to know about rock and roll.

More amazing music – more E street band players – and similarly to Born to Run – long songs. Funny that two of the best selling albums eschewed the single format.

Richard

It was Richard who left me alone with Born to Run 25 years ago – one of those evenings that imprinted hard on my 16 year old brain. He’s a super guitar player, singer songwriter and I love to play music with him.

We haven’t played together for a year – possibly more – but we grabbed an hour the other week – iPhone recording in the room…

We caught this video when curating our page on
Background music – how music can improve your life – and thought it was well worth posting on the blog.

It’s 2 1/2 minutes long and looks at the work being done by Parag Chordia and the team at Georgia Tech into how music can impact pretty much every area of our lives – but in this case creativity.

A good playlist from music2work2 to stimulate creativity would be the Writers playlist

Download the playlist at 320K when you become a free member of music2work2