Cloud Cult have remained an independent group during a time when doing so has turned out to be the smartest move a band could make. Cloud Cult control their sound, and they control their message. It’s in complete evidence on this live album, recorded during three all-acoustic hometown shows in 2013 at the Southern Theatre in Minneapolis. Mixed and edited into an hourlong sequence that emphasizes the strength of their voices, Unplug also speaks to the band’s interests in environmental and social consciousness. The smartly orchestrated arrangements work in beautiful sync with their message; the overall effect is one where the human spirit is clearly raised by the strength of their music and the band’s commitment toward making the most of their musical and personal freedom as an independent group. The rapturous audience response at the end of “Chemicals Collide” is a genuine outburst prompted by the music’s momentum.