First off, one thing I'll say about this record, it's got some nice variety and some refreshing songwriting. "Skip to the End," while remaining a clever song concept, is an irritatingly whimsical jaunt, made even more annoying by the fact that some cool Plumb style drum loops were put in and expected to fit well. But not all the songs are like that, though they do just about all have simple variations on one particular laid-back drum beat. The drums, however, aren't just backing material, but are included as an actual instrument with equal importance. "Stranger Than Fiction" emerges, as sort of electronic spy music, with a few such tricks seemingly pulled straight from Nine Inch Nails. "High" is a very thoughtful piece, and includes a variety of instrumentation. In addition to the loopy drums, there are samples of space missions and a cello here and there. A lot of people I've met need to hear "Jesus Shirt," which urges the listener to realize that our relationship with Jesus should hold much more importance in our lives than any sort of clothing, jewelry, etc., and that no amount of "Jesus junk" can ever take the place of that real relationship. He doesn't need advertising. Mukala is pretty original and thoughtful, save for a few scattered exceptions, and makes a nice addition to the Essential roster.