| Deacon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 26, 2021 (2021-03-26) | |||
| Genre | R&B[1] | |||
| Length | 29:09 | |||
| Label | Secretly Canadian | |||
| Producer |
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| Serpentwithfeet chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Deacon | ||||
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Deacon (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Serpentwithfeet. It was released on March 26, 2021, by Secretly Canadian.[5]
A year after the release of Serpentwithfeet's debut studio album Soil (2018), he released a single titled "Receipts" with singer and rapper Ty Dolla Sign.[6] They further worked on the latter's album Featuring Ty Dolla Sign (2020), with the single "Ego Death" along with rapper Kanye West, singer-songwriter FKA Twigs, and record producer Skrillex.[7] Serpentwithfeet also contributed his vocals on "Serpentwithfeet Interlude" on the same album.[8] On the same year, he released an extended play titled Apparition on April 30.[9]
On January 25, 2021, Serpentwithfeet announced the release date of the album alongside the single "Fellowship", co-produced by musicians Sampha and Lil Silva.[2] He released the second single titled "Same Size Shoe" on February 17, 2021.[3] Three days prior to the album release, he released the third single, "Heart Storm", a collaboration with singer Nao.[4]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.0/10[10] |
| Metacritic | 86/100[11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic[12] |   |
| Clash[1] | 9/10 |
| Consequence of Sound[13] | A− |
| The Independent[14] | |
| NME[15] | |
| Pitchfork[16] | 7.7/10 |
| Rolling Stone[17] | |
Deacon received rave reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 from reviews from mainstream critics, the album received a score of 86, based on 15 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[11] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.0 out of 21, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[10]
Rachel Brodsky of The Independent gave the album a perfect score and described it as a "a stunning celebration of black, gay love. [...] It is also a groundbreaking proclamation of personal acceptance."[14] Laura Dzubay at Consequence of Sound gave the album an A−, described it as a "bountiful collage of love and care."[13] Shahzaib Hussain of Clash gave it 9 out of 10, deemed it as an "early contender for Album of the Year" then described Deacon as a "triumph". He further stated that "it realizes and relives love's quiet, archived moments, be it romantic or spiritual."[1] Ross Horton of The Line of Best Fit called it "blood-red" and "heart-bursting", further stated that it is "quite clearly, a complex, rich and elegant collection that points at one very simple truth: love is central to a life well lived."[18] Heather Phares of AllMusic compared the album to Serpentwithfeet's previous releases and called it more "soothing and fulfilling". Phares stated that Serpentwithfeet "transforms into a beautiful, fully realized work of art for his audience to savor."[12] El Hunt of NME gave it a four out of five stars and called it "a meticulous excavation of heartbreak".[15] Ben Tipple of DIY gave the album four out of five stars and called the album "looks for hope in love, much like in the spirituality that birthed it."[19] Claire Shaffer of Rolling Stone gave the album four out of five stars and praised the "cheekiness and humor" of it. Shaffer described the album as a "party record for people partying alone in their living room."[17] Adlan Jackson at Pitchfork rated the album 7.7 out of 10, saying that the album "could use a few more awe-inspiring moments, but by celebrating simplicity, it enshrines the Black, queer love at its center as something blessedly uncomplicated and precious."[16]
In June 2021, Billboard named the album among the best 15 albums released by LGBTQ artists so far in 2021.[20]
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 |
14
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All tracks are written by Josiah Wise, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hyacinth" |
| 3:19 | |
| 2. | "Same Size Shoe" |
| 3:30 | |
| 3. | "Malik" |
| 1:24 | |
| 4. | "Amir" |
|
| 2:56 |
| 5. | "Dawn" | serpentwithfeet | 0:33 | |
| 6. | "Sailors' Superstition" |
| Take a Daytrip | 2:56 |
| 7. | "Heart Storm" (with Nao) |
|
| 3:13 |
| 8. | "Wood Boy" |
|
| 2:44 |
| 9. | "Derrick's Beard" | serpentwithfeet | 1:38 | |
| 10. | "Old & Fine" |
| 3:13 | |
| 11. | "Fellowship" |
|
| 3:39 |
| Total length: | 29:09 | |||
