The popularity of MTV unplugged has inspired tremendous numbers of musicians to record acoustic albums. Either they will write songs specifically for acoustic instruments or do live sets of acoustic songs similar to the MTV Unplugged records. Sirius 30 Coffee House gives us a glimpse of how some normally plugged in loud songs will sound with just acoustic intruments. You also get to hear live sets from great singer/songwriters who will occasionally play the smaller venues with just a guitar and a microphone in front of them.

I consider it a real treat to hear many of these great artists in such a stripped down scenario. An acoustic guitar just by itself can ring through a room.  This creates a purity in the sound delivery whuch can strike a chord with many listeners. Especially when the singer is really on their game.

I have often scanned the dial at random moments during the day to find music on Coffee House that catches me by surprise. Hearing Jewel or Sheryl Crow for instance play just on their own is striking. They have such original deliveries in their music that you hear them just as they are giving the performance 100% of their souls.

It is worth a trip in time to go back and check out the earlier MTV Unplugged records for a taste of  acoustic bliss, as well as some records by acts who decided to strip down to basic instrumentation to present a fresh approach to the audience. I highly encourage everyone to listen to the MTV Unplugged albums of Eric Clapton, KISS and Neil Young for three of my favourites. Outside of the MTV Unplugged category, consider German Metal Heroes The Scorpions and “Acoustica”.