MTV Unplugged is an extended play (EP) and live album by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, released in the United States on August 19, 2011, by Virgin Records.
It features an acoustic performance taped at Sony Music Studios in New York City on May 13 of that year for the television series MTV Unplugged.
[2] The show was produced by Jay Peterson and Leah Culton-Gonzales through the production company Original Media, with additional contributions by Jeff Baumgardner and Lee Rolontz.
"[4] Thirty Seconds to Mars explained the scrupulous process of deciding which songs to cover, considering tracks by artists as varied as Cyndi Lauper, Gheorghe Zamfir, Eminem, and Fleetwood Mac.
[5] The show began with "Hurricane", followed by "Alibi", "Kings and Queens", "Closer to the Edge", "Night of the Hunter", "Where the Streets Have No Name", and "Message in a Bottle", originally by The Police.
"[11] Joanna Bomberg from MTV commented that "Thirty Seconds to Mars have delivered a truly visual and sonically compelling performance that will inspire their fans and captivate new ones.
He praised Leto's vocals and wrote that the album "not only brings a different element to some classic songs, but cements Thirty Seconds to Mars' place as one of the finest acts of this generation.
"[12] Amy Sciarretto from Loudwire praised the band's musicianship and wrote, "While U2 songs are often sacred ground, Thirty Seconds to Mars handle their rendition of 'Where the Streets Have No Name' perfectly.
"[14] Kayleigh Burn, writing for Chemical magazine, awarded the album five stars out of a possible five and felt that the band "conquer[s] the listener with a barrage of stunning vocals, memorable guitars and the recurring hum of the violins."
She opined that "Hurricane" was "the best representation of a steadfast performance" and commented that the album "lends the opportunity for a tranquil and calm display of their abilities and more importantly, their hearts.
[24] After spending ten weeks on the chart, the album was certified gold by the Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa (AFP), denoting sales of over 10,000 units throughout the country.