The deacons - Brooklyn towne CD (2004)

Tracklist:
01. Brooklyn towne
02. Quitting time
03. 29
04. Of my father
05. Don't need a reason
06. Calling out
07. Raise your hand
08. Paper soldier
09. I feel fine
10. The time is right
11. Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover)
12. Only in America

Released by Made In Brooklyn Records in 2004.

Even though the band is still together this was the last thing they released (the lineup is included in my photos so i wont mention it here).

Has a more produced feeling to it than their earlier releases which is both good and bad depending on the songs. Even though the song Paper soldier is still a good song it looses sand anyone searching for Oi! can look elsewhere but if you aint to hard for this sort of music you will probably find some enjoyment from great songs like 29 (streetpunk anthem about growing old) and Quitting time.
Best song on the cd was Don't need a reason. A song that made pissed because it shows how great the band can sound when they focus more on rhytmic rock'n'roll than on whispering streetpunk anthems.
7/10

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The record cans till be bought at:
The pists ministore
Hepcat Records
CDbaby

The deacons - In the company of dogs LP

Tracklist:
01. Raise your hand
02. 82'
03. Paper soldier
04. Tied down
05. Black & white
06. The kids (The who cover)
07. D-train
08. The innocents
09. What gives?
10. Backyard heroes
11. Kinda complete
12. Dreams of the world
13. The show

Released by Made in Brooklyn Records. There is no known info about releasedate and nothing mentioned about it on the record itself.

This record is genius and a huge pile of shit at the same time. The tracks are so uneven i sometimes question if its the same band doing all the songs.

When they are good they bring us both good punktracks (Tied down & What gives) and some more laid back rocktracks like (Kinda complete & Paper soldier). But unfortunately their sound is a bit of on the majority of most songs. On some tracks like Backyard heroes they sound like Rancid with Roger Mirret whispering the lyrics trying to make radiopunk in their garage.

Some of their old songs are still as good as they used to be and some good new ones to but all in all theres just to many bad songs to be bothered with and hearing this new and "improved" version of the classic Dreams of the world made my ears bleed.
7/10

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The record can still be bought at Vinyljunkie.

The deacons - Greetings from Brooklyn 7''

Tracklist:
01. The time is right
02. Outto my mind
03. My life
04. Friday night

Released by Cobra Records. No releasedate at all is known about this release and no date is written on the release itself. The EP doesnt even list the bandmembers and the Cobra Records is completly unknown so figuring out the release year for this one is almost impossible. The fact that it's a rare record makes it impossible to ask any stores about any info.

The band shows of both their good and bad sides on this ep. The opening track Time is right is probably the best one. Its rhytmic and catchy with good lyrics and a hell of a way to open a EP.
Less good is the second song that is intresting in its own way butt the stop-go-stop-go sections just makes it a freak of a song that is impossible to listen to without getting annoyed.
Song My life offers a good skinhead punk'n'roll anthem but ends just to short to be enjoyable.
Last track is the biggest disappointment since it starts of in a nice modsish way and the chorus is great but the vocalist just cant handle these softer songs and it sounds more like whispers than singing.

Still a nice EP that stands out in both a good and a bad way.
8/10

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The deacons & Chelloveck 4 - Rats get fat while brave men die 7'' (1999)

Tracklist:
01. The deacons - What gives
02. The deacons - Black & white
03. Chelloveck 4 - Closing time
04. Chelloveck 4 - Run away

Released by Made In Brooklyn in 1999.

The only record by the band that i dont have in my vinylcollection. Thanks to Brian guy for sending me the mp3's.

Some great skinhead rock'n'roll made by two shamefully overlooked bands.
The deacons start it of with their (to this day) best song What gives. The song rocks in that late 70's way (just write Skrewdriver already...) and shows Rich singing in a way i would like to hear more often.
The issues i sometimes have with Rich's voice shows up in their second song where his voice just falls flat at some parts. This most often happens when the band tries to be a bit more radiofriendly an "popish" in their sound.

Chelloveck 4's releases are few but just like the split they did with Baltimore foot stompers (a band where Al Quimet whom would later play in The deacons played) all songs are great. The better one of the two is Run away that has some really nice singalong parts.
9/10

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Lyrics for Paper soldier by The deacons

I knew a paper soldier boy cut finely out of would
He started out with plastic guns, intentions well and good
And as the years passed by it seems he played the part so well
He wrapped himself in stars and stripes all else could go to hell
And he said "I know whats right and it aint you"

I meet a man while scrubbin pots with a face i'd seen before
For every story i could tell he had a hundred more
Old Irish Joe had nothing left. Not home, nore job, nore wife
Three people at the welfare wake to finally end his life
"Mr please can you spare a dime?"

My god why'd it go so wrong? Why cant you see it through?
Mockry of a country thats more red and white than blue
My god why mothers crying, she aint the only one
Only question left to ask is aint we all your sons?

The deacons - With hope and sincerity 7'' (1998)

Tracklist:
01. Paper soldier
02. D train to Brighton
03. Dreams of the world

Released by Pogostick Records. No information at all about the releasedate but i compared them to other Pogostick releases and atleast think i have pinned down the exact year.

Thanks to Brian Guy for rippin the record and leaving me with the lesser task of taking the photoes.


Those who are familuar with Those unknown will feel right at home with this record thanks to the sound that the Owens brothers bring with them but also thanks to the fact that Rich has been clearly influenced by Bill Owens way of singing (here on guitar). This release was the one that made me go out and purchase their other releases. The sound is quite laid back and soft but still has a punky feeling to it. Just like Those unknown most songs have socially aware lyrics with great lyrics. Best one of them all being Paper soldier.

I missed out on this band when they first where active and found out about them in 2010. An ep that should be classic but has been long forgotten and even though the second track is a bit weak this EP is a necessity in anyones collection.

After this release both Richie Owens and Bill Owens left the band and was replaced by Mikeloporto on drums and Rich Terdoslavich on guitar.
10/10

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The record can still be purchased at:
Vinyljunkie
Armageddon Records

The deacons (introduction)

Brooklyn based band that started in the late 90's by the Owens brothers on drums and guitar (Those unknown), Bill Hardwick on bass and Rich Stremme on vocals and guitar (the only original member who to this day plays in the band). The different lineups where many so i will try to post them as i post the albums.

The band is described as what happens when punks grow up and for good and bad i guess thats a good explanation. In the beginning they played a more mature sort of skinhead rock'n'roll but in their later years turned into more of a band resembling Hudson falcons.

One thing that has frustrated me from day one is that only two of their five releases featured any kind of information about releasedate wich makes it quite hard to make a discography for them but i will give it a try.

For more information on the band read this interview with one of the members.