dc Talk mixed up the formula on their “Supernatural” album, trading in their signature hip-hop for a much more progressive sound. The result is what I consider to be their best album to date. While they are not afraid to continue to sprinkle some hip-hop into their work, the majority of the songs are more modern pop and rock based tunes. Their stage show has also come up to date, complete with a sleek stripped down look to the sets.
This disc captures some of the songs performed on the tour, mixed in with i…terview segments and music videos. The result is an “all in one” approach to a DVD title, as the feature and the extras are mixed together to form one major presentation. The result is something easy to watch, yet entirely unique. It is a documentary, of sorts, capturing the band during one short season of their artistic journey. This is the best of the numerous dc Talk DVDs on the market today.
Audio
Dolby Digital 2.0 is the only audio option for this title. This was a release that was originally created for distribution solely on VHS, and has just recently been converted over to DVD. To keep costs low, the soundtrack was not re-mastered, but instead this is the same stereo track that was created for VHS. Having said that, the track is surprisingly agile, complete with some decent low end. Musical tones and dialog are both clear, and the sound field is spread out nicely across the front of house.
Video
For a title not created with DVD in mind, there is also some pretty decent video included on this disc. Multiple camera models were used to capture both the interview segments and the live performances, so picture quality is somewhat varied, depending on the camera angle. As a whole, however, black levels are very deep, and the lush stage lighting comes across very well. The picture is also remarkably clear, with only a few of the camera angles being on the grainy side. There is also a slight problem with streaking on some shots, but generally speaking, this is a pretty nice transfer.
Special Features
The special features are kind-of mixed in with the feature presentation, so there are no additional features on this disc. I would have liked to have seen at least something more show up in this area.
Final Thoughts
While not breaking any major new ground, dc Talk has taken a small step forward in the quality of long-form Music Videos with this release. Their “just push play” approach to filmmaking has created a piece that is easy to watch, while still being informative and entertaining. It is especially nice to see the brilliant “My Friend (So Long)” video included here, and it is reassuring that the Christian music market may still have some tricks up its sleeve yet.
