Theme for a Broken Soul

Theme for a Broken Soul
Studio album by DJ Rels
Released August 24, 2004
Recorded 2004
Genre Electronic music, house
Length 62:19
Label Stones Throw
Producer DJ Rels
Madlib chronology
A Tribute to Brother Weldon
(2004)
Theme for a Broken Soul
(2004)
The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
(2005)

Theme for a Broken Soul is an electronic and house music album by hip hop producer Madlib under the alias of DJ Rels. It was released on August 24, 2004 through Stones Throw Records.[1] The album was inspired by the West London scene responsible for the short lived "broken beat" scene.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [2]
HipHopSite [3]
Prefix Magazine (6.0/10) [4]
RapReviews (8/10) [5]

Upon its release, Theme for a Broken Soul received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Josh Bush of AllMusic gave the album three and a half stars out of five, saying "Madlib is surprisingly faithful here, each track sounding like it could be inserted on a broken beat mix album with few problems. Little character, to be sure, but solid results."[2] Nikhil P. Yerawadekar of HipHopSite gave the album a three out of five, saying "This DJ Rels album, while never particularly offensive, is monotonous (most of its songs being in one narrow tempo range) and overall uninteresting. Madlib could have done a lot better than this album."[3] Matthew Gasteier of Prefix Magazine gave the album a 6.0 out of ten, saying "Madlib often succeeds as DJ Rels, and he should be applauded for even trying to go in such a different direction. But save the applause for when you're on the dance floor. Personally, I'm staying home and putting on Madvillainy."[4] Dan Mennella of RapReviews gave the album an eight out of ten, saying "When you're as well accomplished as Madlib is, you've earned the right to try something a little different like this. Heck, he's already made a career out of it."

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Don't U Know"   5:13
2. "Sunrise"   5:47
3. "Broken Soul/Dawn"   9:07
4. "Universal Peace"   6:52
5. "Sao Paulo"   4:42
6. "Eclipse Pt. 1 & 2"   4:39
7. "Song for My Lady"   4:26
8. "Moonride"   5:53
9. "Waves"   4:55
10. "The Doo (Do It)"   4:03
11. "Diggin in Brownswood"   5:28
12. "?"   1:14
Total length:
62:19

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "DJ Rels | Theme For A Broken Soul". StonesThrow.com. Retrieved 1 Jan, 2014. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Bush, John. "Theme for a Broken Soul - DJ Rels | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 1 Jan, 2014. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Yerawadekar, Nikhil P. (5 Oct 2004). "DJ Rels – Theme For A Broken Soul". HipHopSite.com. Retrieved 1 Jan 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Gasteier, Matthew (5 Mar 2008). "Album Review DJ Rels - Theme for a Broken Soul". PrefixMag.com. Retrieved 1 Jan 2014.
  5. Mennella, Dan (31 Aug 2004). "Madlib (DJ Rels) :: Theme for a Broken Soul :: Stones Throw Records". RapReviews.com. Retrieved 1 Jan 2014.