DJ Brent Covington’s Top Ten Songs and Albums of 2012
Top 10 Fur And Gold Songs:
Azealia Banks – 212
Gossip – Move In The Right Direction
Grimes – Genesis
Hot Chip – Night And Day
Icona Pop – I Love It
Lana Del Rey – National Anthem
Paloma Faith – Picking Up The Pieces
Scissor Sisters – Let’s Have A Kiki
The Young Professionals – D.I.S.C.O.
Zebra Katz – Ima Read
Top 10 Songs:
Bright Light Bright Light – Love Part II
Frank Ocean – Thinking Bout You
Grizzly Bear – Gun-Shy
Jessie Ware – Wildest Moments
Saint Etienne – Tonight
Solange – Losing You
The xx – Chained
Trust – Dressed For Space
Twin Shadow – Golden Light
Yeasayer – Blue Paper
Top 10 Albums:
Bear In Heaven – I Love You, It’s Cool
Grizzly Bear – Shields
Geographer – Myth
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
Jessie Ware – Devotion
Metric – Synthetica
Mika – The Origin Of Love
The xx – Coexist
Twin Shadow – Confess
Yeasayer – Fragrant World
DJ Taffy’s Top Ten Songs and Albums of 2012
Sorry to disappoint followers of Mayan prophecies, but the world did not come to a fiery end during the latter days of 2012. Rather, we simply (to quote the stoic Brits of World War II) kept calm and carried on. And what better way to keep sanity in your life during such occasionally insane times than to fire up the iPod, CD player or turntable and lose yourself in the world of pop. This music lover/consumer/critic found a lot to love in 2012, practically none of it to be found at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Can someone please explain to me what a Flo Rida is? Anyone? You might not hear me playing all my faves at a DJ gig, but rest assured they were the soundtrack to my weekend car rides to Ptown, days working at Harvard Med, and evenings socializing with good friends.
Before my selections are revealed (drum roll, please), a few words about the process. All songs and albums commercially released on download or CD in 2012 were eligible, although it’s possible a song or two seeing a very late 2011 release may have snuck through if they didn’t come to my attention ’til early ’12 (so call off the dogs!). Songs and albums are ranked from 1-10 with 1 being the best of the best, but it’s a fairly loose ranking and had I compiled these lists another day the order may be slightly different. I’ve also provided five “runner-up” songs and albums. As with any proper beauty pageant (or jury), if a finalist cannot fulfill his or her duties, an alternative is provided! Enjoy, and happy listening to all.
Top Ten Taffy Songs of the Year:
1. Kylie Minogue – Timebomb
2. Icona Pop – I Love It
3. Saint Etienne – Tonight
4. Stars - Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
5. Little Boots – Headphones
6. Magnetic Fields – Andrew In Drag
7. The Primitives – Turn Off The Moon
8. Grimes – Oblivion
9. The Young Professionals – Be With You Tonight
10. Twin Shadow – Five Seconds
Five More Songs:
Pet Shop Boys – Leaving
Queen Of Hearts – Neon
Bob Sinclar featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Fuck With You
Ladyhawke - Sunday Drive (Gigamesh Remix)
The Mowgli’s – San Francisco
Top Ten Taffy Albums of the Year:
1. Saint Etienne – Words and Music By Saint Etienne
2. Bright Light Bright Light – Make Me Believe In Hope
3. Marina & The Diamonds – Electra Heart
4. Gossip – A Joyful Noise
5. The Primitives – Echoes and Rhymes
6. Dragonette – Bodyparts
7. Lana Del Rey – Born To Die
8. Garbage – Not Your Kind Of People
9. Diamond Rings – Free Dimensional
10. Bob Mould – Silver Age
Five More Albums:
Pet Shop Boys – Elysium
Stars – The North
Imperial Teen – Feel The Sound
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
Beach House – Bloom
01.11.2013 Fur And Gold – Kylie Minogue – Abbey Road Sessions CD Release Party
What a year 2012 has been! This month we are celebrating the release of Kylie Minogue’s “The Abbey Road Sessions”, which contains a boastful amount of her singles and greatest hits broken down! Something not to miss, we have goodies, posters, stickers, CDs and more!
Bringing together Queers, Music, and Art together for everyone
… …
Host Sean Johnson invites you to dance, drink, and have a great time with DJ Brent Covington & DJ Taffy spinning Indie Rock/…
… Pop/Dance, Post-Punk, ’80s, Britpop, Underground, New Wave, Electro, & Euro Hits.
A night at the Alley for Art Fags, Hipsters, Geeks, the Music Obsessed and all. Exploring the alternative side of the Boston Gay Nightlife scene with a new twist for a new generation. Enjoy Visual Entertainment (Music videos, Artist Works), Snacks and Cheap Drinks.
Bring your friends and spread the word.
21+
10pm – 2am
$$No Cover$$
Sean’s Top 10s of 2012
2012 was a great year for growth, relationships, and big changes in my life. I turned 30 years old this year, and with it I made a promise to myself to life a healthier and fuller life. With that I made the big decision to stop drinking alcohol, exercise my mind, and learn to give back. With the help of some fellow peers, we saw that start of a non profit called the Boston LGBTQIA Artist Alliance (BLAA Website), providing resources, community, and support to LGBTQIA Artists. I finally saw people who really want to pull things together, share knowledge and give back. With this idea of giving back to the community I recently started volunteering my time at the the local HIV clinic here in Boston. Just a little bit of help goes a long way I like to say. I wanted to broaden my knowledge, and also learn from what goes on and behind these resources. I also saw a start of a new job/career teaching as an after school mentor for high school students, educating them about innovation through and ArtScience approach. All these things I would have never imagined myself doing, or let alone being interested in. Take away one thing, and three emerge, much better and more positive!
I also have gained an amazing boyfriend, best friend, and lover. Gerald, who is my partner in crime, has provided me with more love and support than anyone has in a LONG time. He always knows how to cheer me up, and has taught me a thing or two about love, relationships, and needs in life. With his ever enchanting smile and warm hugs, Gerald is also a long lover of pop culture and music. With that, much of my music went from GLUM to HAPPY! We spent most of the summer dancing around and singing bad pop music, but you know what, I DON’T CARE! HAH!~ So with that, my charts, skewed by fun, happiness, and teenie pop might skew our Top 10s this year! All plays are calculated by LastFM scrobbles and iTunes plays.
Song of the Year
1. Ellie Goulding – Dead in the Water
2. Lana Del Rey – National Anthem
3. Donkeyboy – City Boy
4. Saint Lou Lou – Only You
5. Katy Perry – Wide Awake
6. Man Without Country – Clipped Wings
7. Non Tiq – Love Machine
8. Carly Rae Jepson – Call Me Maybe
9. Garcon Garcon – Stay In Touch
10. Wynter Gordon – Stimela
Honorable Mentions
Niki & The Dove – Tomorrow
Charli XCX – Stay Away
Solange – Loosing You
Rihanna – Diamonds
Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch – Sweet Nothing
Album of the Year
1. Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
2. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
3. Charli XCX – Heartbeats And Earthquakes (Mixtape)
4. Man Without Country – Foe
5. Niki & The Dove – Instinct
6. Wynter Gordon – Doleo
7. Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
8. Garcon Garcon – Self Titled EP
9. Beach House – Bloom
10. Chromatics – Kill for Love
Artist of the Year
1. Ellie Goulding
2. Lana Del Rey
3. Rihanna
4. Niki & The Dove
5. Beach House
6. Donkey Boy
7. Carly Rae Jepsen
8. Man Without Country
9. Bat for Lashes
10. Kimbra
Best Pop/Hip Hop/R&B Album of the Year
1. Wynter Gordon – Doleo
2. Rihanna – Unapologetic
3. Azealia Banks – 1991 EP
4. Carly Rae Jepsen – This Kiss
5. Garcon Garcon – Self Titled EP
6. Marina and the Diamonds – Electra Heart
7. Emeli Sande – Our Version of Events
8. Rye Rye – Go! Pop! Bang!
9. Donkeyboy – Silver Moon
10. Alphabeat – Express Non-Stop
Best Indie Rock/Pop Album of the Year
1. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
2. Chromatics – Kill for Love
3. Beach House – Bloom
4. Chairlift – Something
5. Cat Power – Sun
6. The Album Leaf – Torey’s Distraction – Original Soundtrack
7. The XX – Coexist
8. Memoryhouse – The Slideshow Effect
9. Stars – The North
10. Saint Savior – Union
Best Electronic Album of the Year
1. Charli XCX – Heartbeats and Earthquakes
2. Man Without Country – Foe
3. El Perro Del Mar – Pale Fire
4. Azealia Banks – 1991 EP
5. The Presets – Pacifica
6. Lemonade – Diver
7. Grimes – Visions
8. Chromatics – Kill for Love
9. Iamamiwhoami – Kin
10. Santigold – Master of My Make-Believe
Best Non-American Album of the Year
1. Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man
2. Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
3. Niki & The Dove – Instinct
4. El Perro Del mar – Pale Fire
5. Man Without Country – Foe
6. Jesse Ware – Devotion
7. Wynter Gordon – Doleo
8. Presets – Pacifica
9. Emeli Sande – Our Version of Events
10. Marina and the Diamonds – Electra Heart
Oldies But Goodies (Non 2012 Released) Songs
1. Ellie Goulding – Lights (2011)
2. Rihanna (feat. Calvin Harris) – We Found Love (2011)
3. Adele vs. Daft Punk – Something about the Fire (Carlos Serrano Mix) (2011)
4. The Sound of Arrows – My Shadow (2011)
5. Robyn – Hang With Me (Acoustic) (2010)
6. Birdy – Skinny Love (2011)
7. Kimbra – Old Flame (2011)
8. Young Galaxy – We Have Everything (2011)
9. Yasmin – On My Own (Steve Smart & WestFunk Club Mix) (2011)
10. M83 – Midnight City (2011)
DJ Taffy’s Setlist – December 14th, 2012
Cherry Blossom Girl (Radio Mix) – Air
It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way – Blow Monkeys
Heaven (Must Be There) – Eurogliders
Pop Goes The World – Gossip
Kicking and Screaming – Oh My!
How I Learned To Hate Rock ‘n’ Roll – Pet Shop Boys
Subculture (Radio Edit) – Stop Modernists ft Chris Lowe
Just An Illusion (Maxi Mix) – Imagination
Every Night I Say A Prayer – Little Boots
Timebomb – Kylie Minogue
Oh No! (Album Version) – Marina & The Diamonds
Candy (More Candy Remix) – Robbie Williams
Shot You Down – Florrie
Une Very Stylish Fille – Dimitri From Paris
The Meaning Of Love – Depeche Mode
Kamikaze Kid – Black Peter Group
Heart Failure – Alphabeat
Heart Of Glass (Electro Disco Mix) – Blondie Vs Edison
Sexy! No No No… – Girls Aloud
Get It Get It – Scissor Sisters
Be With You Tonight – The Young Professionals
Earthquake – Ssion
Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
He’s On The Phone (Radio Edit) – Saint Etienne
If My Friends Could See Me Now – Linda Clifford
She Won’t Be Home – Erasure
We Three Kings – Book Of Love
Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) (Radio Edit) – Freemasons Feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Acapella (Monarchy Urania Radio Edit) – Kelis
Confide In Me – Kylie Minogue
Happy New Year – ABBA
DJ Brent Covington’s Set List – December 14, 2012
Carried Away (Box Of Wolves Remix) – Passion Pit
Sunshine And Love (Junior Remix) – Happy Mondays
Sweet Talk (Cyril Hahn Remix) – Jessie Ware
Please Don’t Turn Me On (Disclosure Remix) – Artful Dodger
Polly (Bruno Be Remix) – Nirvana
How Do You Do (Joe Goddard Dub) – Hot Chip
Plush – Tiga
Try Me – Mic Raygun
Smack My Bitch Up (DJ Nejtrino and DJ Stranger Dub) – Prodigy
She’s A Bitch (Roger J Remix) – Missy Elliott
Ride (MJ Cole Remix) – Lana Del Rey
A Little Bit Of Ecstasy (Stereothieves Remix) – Jocelyn Enriquez
Ghosts (Fort Romeau Remix) – The Presets
Hyperballad (LFO Stomp Remix) – Bjork
Get It & Go – Khia
All I Want For Christmas Is You (Dance Remix) – Mariah Carey
Love Spent (HV2 Remix) – Madonna
Leaving (PSB Side By Side Remix) – Pet Shop Boys
Ride A White Horse (Sergio Santiago Remix) – Goldfrapp
Fired Up (Hot Since 82 Remix) – Funky Green Dogs
Genesis – Grimes
Fierce (Paris Is Burning Mashup)- Azealia Banks
Suck My Dick – Lil Kim
My Dick (Gooffee Remix) – Mickey Avalon
No More Lies – Michel’le
Work It – Missy Elliott
Took The Night – Chelley
Romeo (DivKid Remix) – Basement Jaxx
Cover Model Andrew: Photoshoot and Interview
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
Profession: Community Manager for a happiness company
Hobbies: Spending too much time on the internet
Favorite Album: The first Spice Girls album. Anyone who hates it, hates themselves.
Favorite Song: Shooting Stars-Bag Raiders
Favorite Artist: Dan Mangan
F&G: How does it feel being a cover model for F&G?
Andrew: Well, I’m flattered! It’s kind of a nice little ego boost. I always have a blast at F&G so it’s awesome getting to be a part of it, even if it’s in small way.
F&G: What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Andrew: Feisty, Loyal, Precise and a 4th would be Taco.
F&G: So from Alaska eh? I’m sure you got something interesting to say about it there!
Andrew: Haha yes I’m a very proud Alaskan. Not too sure what I can say that you haven’t already seen on TV but, I have seen the Northern Lights more times than I can count. Fishing with my Dad was my favorite summer activity. If I could replace beef with moose in my weekly diet, I would. Um, I would have to say that living in Alaska gave me an appreciation for winter, so it’s hands down my favorite season.
F&G: How does music fit into your every day life?
Andrew: I challenge you to find a time in my day where I’m not wearing headphones. I feel like I should be sponsored by Bose. My life is pretty much “shake to shuffle” and so is my music. If you were to go through my most played songs on iTunes library I could probably tell you a amazing story associated with the first 100, and that’s exactly how I like my music. Finding new music just means I have to find a new things to do while listening to it.
F&G: Give us a little fact about yourself that people might not expect.
Andrew: I really REALLY don’t care for cake. Like at all. I’m also the tallest person in my family at a WHOPPING 5’7.5″.
F&G: What songs are blowing up your play lists these past few months?
Andrew:
On The Metro-Girls Aloud
Bernal Heights-Jhameel
It Gets Dark-Holy Ghost
Heartbeat (Justin Faust Remix)-Childish Gambino
Trojans (Lenno remix)-Atlas Genius
Leaving (Psb Side-by-Side Remix)-Pet Shop Boys
F&G: How did you find out about F&G?
Andrew: I was actually invited by a new friend that I met on twitter, who was a cover model earlier this year! (LOVE YOU JEREMY COX!)
F&G: What about F&G makes you keep coming back for more?
Andrew: It’s the only place where I can get a dirty martini and a bearded man at the same time.
12.14.2012 – Mic Raygun, Gold Fields CD Release Party
What a year 2012 has been! This month we are celebrating the release of Mic Raygun’s new Eating The Timid EP. He is a Boston, Fur And Gold, Indie musician and we are loving his new EP. We also have a great preview and promo of the new album coming out by Gold Fields this February. We got some promo CDs and other goodies by them!
Bringing together Queers, Music, and Art together for everyone
…
Host Sean Johnson invites you to dance, drink, and have a great time with DJ Brent Covington & DJ Taffy spinning Indie Rock/…
…
A night at the Alley for Art Fags, Hipsters, Geeks, the Music Obsessed and all. Exploring the alternative side of the Boston Gay Nightlife scene with a new twist for a new generation. Enjoy Visual Entertainment (Music videos, Artist Works), Snacks and Cheap Drinks.
Bring your friends and spread the word.
21+
10pm – 2am
$$No Cover$$
F&G Exclusive Interview with Mic Raygun
Jon Reagan, the talented musician behind the performance name Mic Raygun, hails from Boston, was often seen at Fur And Gold, and puts on one hell of a live show. Fur And Gold is celebrating the release of his new indie EP, Eating The Timid on Friday, December 14th, and DJ Brent Covington got a chance to talk to him about his music, his influences, and his move to NYC.
Fur & Gold: Jon, your new EP coming out on December 4, 2012, is called Eating The Timid; What is the process of writing and releasing music as an independent (indie) musician?
Mic Raygun: I spend a long time writing a song. I do not usually sit down to write. Instead I hum and think about new tunes for hours, days, months or even years until I can hear them fully in my head. When I have a good idea about a song I begin recording and finding sounds that resemble my minds sense of the song. I haven’t yet made a recording that sounds exactly how my mind perceives the song. I wish there was a device that can replicate sound perceived in your head and make it audible. That would be incredible. The mind is a fantastic tool that’s years beyond reality.
Releasing music as an indie musician is easy thanks to sites like Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Branding and promoting my music is the challenge for me. I want this project to be taken seriously because I’ve devoted myself to it. In the last couple years I’ve begun thinking like a business person. I want people to hear this so it’s important to me to understand a thing or two about promoting and advertising. At first I felt like a phony, but now I’m adapting and discovering how being a business person is similar to being a musician. You have to be a creative thinker in both realms to achieve anything, or just luck the fuck out.
F&G: The new EP has fantastic range of sounds, from the intricate guitar loops in “Eating The Timid” to the dance beat of “Try Me.” How would you describe your sound?
MR: Thanks for using “fantastic” to describe the range of sounds! Currently the sound is Industrial Soul with some House influence. I used to call my sound DJ Rock, but I want a play with a band now so that doesn’t seem to fit anymore.
F&G: What genres or musicians inspire you?
MR: Combining polar opposites to make a cohesive sound is what I strive to achieve with MRGun. Melting Grizzly Bear with Nine Inch Nails is a good example. These are two very influential groups and I think would make a kick ass baby. I love making beats, hip-hip/EMB, so music that involves sequencing percussion inspires me. Bands like Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy have really influenced me. I just started listening to The Weeknd; Abel Tesfaye’s producers have made some really amazing and cutting edge tracks. At the moment I’ve been listening to Mykki Blanco, Nadja, Scott Walker and Fleetwood Mac.
F&G: You recently made the big move to Brooklyn, didn’t you? How is the indie scene there different than the one in Boston?
MR: It’s much bigger! There are more shows, more bands and more creative people. I wish Boston could receive more cred in the national/international scene, but it’s too small so not as much happens. Plus the transportation in Boston cuts off the ability to enjoy nightlife past 1 am. Night life is a huge part of the New York Indie/any art scene so it has that advantage.
F&G: I saw you do a crazy live set Upstairs at the Middle East earlier this year, sharing the bill with a few other Boston artists. Will you be doing any other live shows coming up?
MR: I’m glad you caught that performance. I was banned from playing there after it. I heard there are new booking people so maybe I can go back. I want to perform this EP with a band. My last EP, Pinch, seemed like a good opportunity to experiment with performance so I decided to go solo. While I find a band to play with I converted Eating The Timid into a singer/songwriter set and have been playing it around Brooklyn. I enjoy playing acoustic music and I’m happy with how the tracks translated. I think I may record and release Eating The Timid as an acoustic record also, but I need a bit more time to tighten everything out. My acoustic sets are nowhere near as crazy as the rock sets, but there still worth checking out.
