Many of these tracks are lullabies of sorts, with a tried and true formula appearing in many of them: Minowa's voice and guitar being the primary focus for the first part of the song, and then an ascending dynamic of accompaniment arises with strings and the addition of backing vocals. Good examples of this are "You Were Born," "Responsible," and "Pretty Voice." "Journey of the Featherless" presents Minowa with no accompaniment at all, his voice and minimal fingerpicking starkly exposed, which provides for a very personal and pure performance of the Feel Good Ghosts cut. However, not all are Minowa-centric - songs like "Running With the Wolves" and "Chemicals Collide" make perfect use of the band's seasoned harmonizing, while the last two tracks ("Complicated Creation" and "No One Said it Would Be Easy") are satisfying, big songs that brim with raucous energy and are impossible not to tap your foot along to. Ultimately, if Unplug can be a sleeper at moments, it shows us an unfiltered and acoustic approach to original renditions of Cloud Cult's warm discography.

Recommended Tracks: #8 "Running With the Wolves", #16 "Complicated Creation", #17 "No One Said it Would Be Easy"

Sig Steiger