It’s the new year: a time for new beginnings, new loves and old clichés. What awaits—maybe Beyoncé’s official coronation as the Queen of Life, the Universe and Everything, or a long-overdue cultural rejection of yet another young adult dystopian series—is mostly unknown, but the prospects are exciting. Last year saw the best (insert necessary and not at all redundant Beyoncé reference) and the worst (that time Danny Zuko introduced Adele Dazeem to the world at the Oscars) take center stage, letting some lesser-known talents fall through the cracks. So before the chapter closes on 2014 forever, let the Clarion shed light on some of the best underappreciated entertainment of the last year.
Best Album: “Take Me When You Go” by Betty Who
Australian pop sensation Betty Who released “Take Me When You Go,” her debut album, on Oct. 3. Who is undoubtedly one of 2014’s brightest new stars, bringing millennial flavor to throwback-infused tunes. The album is a disco dream of tracks ranging from the irresistibly danceable (“Somebody Loves You,” “High Society,” “Glory Days”) to the reflective sublime (“Missing You,” “California Rain,” “All of You”). It’s a soundtrack for late night drives, parties until sunrise, making out and breaking up. The album is carefree yet mature, set to synthetic, catchy beats reminiscent of the ‘80s. If 2014 was a tough year, start 2015 off right and feast your ears on Betty Who’s infectious tunes, available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon.
Best New Series: “Almost Royal”
British comedians Ed Gamble and Amy Hoggart star as fictional aristocratic siblings Georgie and Poppy Carlton in the BBC America reality series “Almost Royal.” The Carltons are 50th and 51st (or 78th and 79th, depending on the day) in line to the British throne and have just set out on a journey across the United States at the request of their late father. Within each episode, the dim-witted, pure-bred Carltons visit a famous American city to investigate the nation’s culture and history—it’s “Borat” meets “The Simple Life.” Gamble and Hoggart never break character, making their real-life encounters with everyday Americans all the more amusing and absurd. In a visit to Boston, the Carltons are horrified and disappointed to find no tea being served at a Tea Party political function. The seven-episode first season is available on iTunes and Amazon Prime; the second season premieres later this year.
Best Movie: “The Way He Looks”
Back in 2011, Brazilian filmmaker Daniel Ribeiro uploaded “I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone,” a short film about a blind boy who falls in love with a new student at his high school. Due to the film’s popularity—it received wide critical acclaim and now has almost 4 million views on YouTube—Ribeiro was able to finance a feature length version of the story, now called “The Way He Looks.” Released in April, the film is a simple and sweet coming-of-age story about finding love, friendship and identity in an unclear world. Those weary of subtitled films shouldn’t fear—it’s a relatable, moving and funny film that will no doubt warm the hearts of many. The film will be available digitally and in stores on March 17.
Best Book: “Grace’s Guide” by Grace Helbig
Over the last several years, YouTube comedian Grace Helbig has gained quite a following online—she has over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and nearly 1 million followers on Twitter and Instagram. Recently she just nabbed her own talk show on E!, debuting this spring. If that’s not enough, Helbig released “Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grown-up,” her hilarious and apt self-help book, back in October. “Grace’s Guide” offers millennials advice on how to be an adult in the fast-paced craziness of today’s world. She gives glorious nuggets of wisdom on everything: dating (or, “The Art of Not Dying Alone”), traveling (“Those neck pillows look stupid but seriously work”), hygiene (“Deodorant can be perfume”) and more. It’s a quick read full of inspiring and fun advice perfect for that quarter-life crisis. “Grace’s Guide” is available in bookstores and online.
