MTV Unplugged - Season 12 (2001)

After 10 years since first hitting the Unplugged stage, rock icons R.E.M. return for another acoustic session. Taped in the MTV Times Square studio, the band rolls out new versions of songs off their latest album, Reveal, plus new acoustic arrangements of songs off their previous 11 albums.

Famous Japanese singer Utada Hikaru performs for MTV Unplugged in Tokyo in 2001. Her performance topped the Japanese CD and DVD sales charts. Recorded: Tennouzu Studio 6/21/2001 in Tokio, Japan Set List: 1. Unplugged 2. Wait & See 3. First Love 4. Addicted To You 5. Parody 6. I fly - kick through 7. With or Without You 8. Automatic 9. FINAL DISTANCE

Performing at MTV Studios in Times Square, NYC, Lauryn Hill unveiled her much-anticipated new material and later released it on the album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. It had been three years since the release of Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Hill appeared with her hair cut off and performed in a stripped-down, minimalist style. Her set included her playing an acoustic guitar, spoken word segments, and occasionally breaking down in tears.

Following the success of Blueprint, Jay-Z took a break from the studio productions of Timbaland and Just Blaze and stepped into acoustic surroundings for a taped edition of MTV's long-running Unplugged series. With the talents of the Roots as his backing band, Jay-Z fails to miss a step and feels just as comfortable in the unplugged arena as he does with drum machines and a mixing desk in front of him. The skills of Roots drummer Ahmir Thompson emulate even the slightest nuance from the originally programmed electronic beats, and Jay-Z fails to take this for granted, gently shifting from one song to the next in medley form with ease. With a strong track listing spanning his entire career of chart-topping hits, this album is the perfect introduction to Jay-Z's prolific catalog and a fun listen for the most dedicated of fans. ~ Rob Theakston