dc Talk's newest effort, Welcome to the Freak Show, is a fantastic piece of work that captures the high energy performance of a dc Talk concert. The disc (also available in long-form video but features 3 less songs...), starts off with "Help," a cover of an old Beatles tune, then moves right into "So Help Me God" from their Jesus Freak album. Before, after & sometimes during songs you can hear the crowd loud and clear in the background, that, if played loud, may make you feel like you're right there. A highlight on the album is the R.E.M. cover, "It's the End of the World as We Know It." The song is done in the signature dc Talk style with TobyMac's rap verses and all. "It's the End" is followed by a segment of the "Jesus Freak remix" and an intro to the members of the live band.

Welcome to the Freak Show is one of the better live recordings available and something dc Talk fans won't want to miss out. You can't call yourself a fan of Christian music if you haven't seen this band in concert. They do, indeed, put on one of the best performances around. Welcome to the Freak Show does a pretty good job capturing that.

- Review date: August, 1997; Written by John DiBiase