Whichever way you look at it, 2014 was an eventful year. The memories from music and pop culture will last a lifetime – although we’ve just about forgotten the Ice Bucket Challenge already – while the tragedy hit far too close to home.
The BRAG team has put its collective heads together to remember the highlights and lowlights of the year that was, and cast an eye towards the year that is now.
CHRIS MARTIN (Managing Editor)
Top three Australian albums:
Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders – Playmates
The Delta Riggs – Dipz Zebazios
Sticky Fingers – Land Of Pleasure
Top three international albums:
Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots
Jack White – Lazaretto
Elbow – The Take Off And Landing Of Everything
Film of the year: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fantastic, in every sense of the word.
Gig of the year: St. Vincent at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid Live. In a year peppered with old dudes playing their same old (still excellent) shows – Springsteen, the Stones, Dylan, half of Queen – Annie Clark came to town and turned the very construct of the rock show on its head.
Festival of the year: Bluesfest. The oldies got Elvis (Costello), the youngsters got Chali 2na, and John Butler got to solo interminably.
Favourite interview: Matt Berninger from The National. One of contemporary music’s foremost lyricists happy to discuss his flaws and ambitions. I fanboyed out – a true professional to the end – but he was fine with it.
Three Australian artists to watch: Gang Of Youths, Playwrite, Fractures
What I’m looking forward to in 2015: Noel Gallagher’s new album (sorta). Noel Gallagher’s new interviews (definitely). Another Radiohead triumph (hopefully).
A foolproof prediction for the year: An unsuspecting festivalgoer will be electrocuted when their selfie stick acts as a lightning rod during a manic storm. Instagram will go crazy over Avicii’s Greatest Light Show Ever #nofilter
SARAH BRYANT (Art Director)
Top three Australian albums:
Donny Benet – Weekend At Donny’s
Client Liaison –Client Liaison
Fishing – Shy Glow
Top three international albums:
Aphex Twin – Syro
Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots
Ice-T – Greatest Hits
Film of the year:
20,000 Days On Earth – dir. Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard with Nick Cave
Gig of the year:
Public Enemy at the Metro (Chuck D for Prime Minister!). Diplo’s gig on The Boat for Channel [V] was pretty spesh too.
Best arts/cultural festival of the year:
Pop To Popism at the Art Gallery of NSW, closely followed by ‘the other’ Nick Cave’s talk at Carriageworks. He’s the Nick Cave you want when you’re not having the other Nick Cave.
What I’ll miss most about 2014: Robin Williams.
What I won’t miss about 2014: The Ice Bucket Challenge.
What I’m looking forward to in 2015: Some more Babe Rainbow sightings.
A foolproof prediction for the year ahead: You will want more money than you have.
AUGUSTUS WELBY (Staff Writer)
Top three Australian albums:
Blank Realm –Grassed Inn
Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders – Playmates
Total Control – Typical System
Top three international albums:
Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Perfume Genius– Too Bright
The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream
Film of the year: A Most Wanted Man. I still can’t believe you’re gone, Philip Seymour, but the directing excellence of Anton Corbijn helped to make your final film an utter masterpiece.
Gig of the year: Total Control, Kirin J Callinan and HTRK at DARK MOFO, Hobart. Big stage, big sound, big lights, complete devastation. Brilliant.
Festival of the year: Meredith Music Festival. It is a biblical event. The setting is Eden and all water gets turned not to wine but tinnies. Fresh cold tinnies.
Favourite interview: Going to the pub with Mick Harvey, Harry Howard and Genevieve McGuckin to discuss the life, music and many moods of the late great Rowland S. Howard.
Three Australian artists to watch: The Stiffys (Melbourne): The most entertaining two-piece on the planet. Motel Love (Melbourne): Power-pop played loose, hard and with enough melody to send you to the diabetes clinic. The Smallgoods (Sydney/Melbourne): Velvet Underground enthusiasts with seriously bad manners.
What I’ll miss most about 2014: My hearing.
What I won’t miss about 2014: Tinnitus.
What I’m looking forward to in 2015: Birdman at the cinema, Nas’ Illmatic tour, tunes from Dick Diver, Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett and maybe even some new trousers.
A foolproof prediction for the year ahead: I’ll continue to end every day with an episode of Seinfeld.
IAN BARR (Contributor)
Top five films (and their respective MVPs):
Inside Llewyn Davis (final scene and line)
Under The Skin (soundscape)
The Immigrant (Marion Cotillard, also for Two Days, One Night)
The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya (The ‘runnin’ free’ scene)
Maps To The Stars (how fresh the air outside seemed after watching it, which I mean as a compliment)
Top five albums:
HTRK – Psychic 9-5 Club
D’Angelo & The Vanguard – Black Messiah
FKA Twigs – LP1
Andy Stott – Faith In Strangers
Low Life – Dogging
Movie quote of the year: “Don’t be seduced by his word-jazz!” – They Came Together
Hollywood’s finest moment: Sorry, but the leaked Sony emails and it ain’t close.
Favourite interview: Ice Cube or Kelly Reichardt.
Three Australian filmmakers to watch: Jennifer Kent, Sophie Hyde, Richard Tuohy
What I’m looking forward to in 2015: The world remaining miraculously unimploded, enjoying the company and work of others on its surface.
A foolproof prediction for the year ahead: Australian Government revealed to be a variety of silhouetted mannequins + a life-size Shaquille O’Neal cutout, uncannily puppetted by Macaulay Culkin.
