Manatea
Mike Kaplan
Emeritus

Reviews 69
Approval 97%

Soundoffs 3
Album Ratings 158
Objectivity 72%

Last Active 01-04-23 3:24 pm
Joined 07-02-22

Review Comments 2,255

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05.12.25 Hey sput03.12.25 Hogwarts House Placements
02.03.25 Ask manatea a question ♦01.27.25 The January from Hell (literally)
12.09.24 THE MANATEA AWARDS 2024 ♦11.20.24 Albums I've missed - 2024 Edition
08.05.24 Tea time07.16.24 My overlooked second sputversary ♦
06.10.24 Sputnik Summer Roast 2024 ♦04.02.24 The GOOD and the BAD (April) - Folk ♦
12.04.23 The Manatea Awards 2023 ♦11.15.23 Rec me the albums I’m missing for a y
10.22.23 (Mana)tea time - Still slaps?07.23.23 The Great Sputnik Summer Roast-VOTING S
07.02.23 One year sputversary/Sputnik appreciati ♦05.16.23 (Mana)tea time - things I can’t get
05.04.23 (Mana)tea time - gym recs/manatea says 04.14.23 (mana)tea time - sputnik zodiac ♦
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THE MANATEA AWARDS 2024

Hi everybody! Welcome to my end of the year list! It's a little pared down from last year but I hope you enjoy.
1Many Eyes
The Light Age

WORST OF THE YEAR (RUNNER-UP): Many Eyes – The Light Age

What happens when you put a supergroup together that should be good but isn’t? You get this album. Between utterly bland songwriting, lackluster vocals, and a sort of slapped-together feeling, The Light Age fell short of everything that anyone thought it could have been. I already did not expect this to be great, but man was it way worse than it should have been.
2Ice Spice
Y2K!

WORST OF THE YEAR: Ice Spice – Y2K!

Y2K was the only hate listen I subjected myself to this year and good God, what a terrible album. There is not much else to say than this. I’m pretty sure the summary for the review of this album was one of the best of the year though.
3Four Year Strong
analysis paralysis

DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR (RUNNER UP): Four Year Strong – analysis paralysis

Sorry everybody, this album didn’t do it for me. I love Four Year Strong, but I simply could not get into analysis paralysis for reasons best known to uh…me, I guess. There were some definite bangers on the album, but I was sort of relieved when I was done listening to it, and I haven’t listened to it since.
4Dua Lipa
Radical Optimism

DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR: Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism

My hype for this album was unreal. Future Nostalgia was such a good time that I stuck to the silly notion that Dua Lipa would probably just do Future Nostalgia 2 and my next three years of pop music would be complete. Didn’t happen. While Radical Optimism saw what was probably Dua’s best vocal performance in her burgeoning discography, it did not compensate the more-often-than-not bland songwriting. Of course there were some songs that stood out (such as “These Walls”, which is probably one of Dua’s best songs), but in the end, Radical Optimism left me radically disappointed.
5Taylor Swift
The Tortured Poets Department

CONTROVERSY OF THE YEAR (RUNNER UP): Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

So I wasn’t a huge fan of this album, but seeing the Sputnik front page plastered with the myriad reviews that were written in the wake of this album being released actually made me crack up. The Tortured Poets Department was one of the most controversial release of the year for Sputnik and the aftermath has been hilarious.
6Linkin Park
From Zero

CONTROVERSY OF THE YEAR: Linkin Park – From Zero

I don’t want to dwell on the controversy surrounding this record. It’s controversial to the point of debating whether its very existence is in keeping with the spirit of Linkin Park. Personally I could care less. There are many bands that have lost their vocalist or the spirit of their band that went on to continue making music (and some of their most iconic music, no less). AC/DC in their prime would be a good example of this. I’m not trying to compare Linkin Park to AC/DC because Linkin Park is much closer to my heart, but there was a lot of talk about this album, both good and bad. I didn’t make this entry as an invitation to more conversation (in fact, let’s please NOT talk about this album), but it was most definitely the Sputnik controversy of the year.
7Julian Lage
Speak To Me

NEW TERRITORY OF THE YEAR (RUNNER UP): Julian Lage – Speak to Me

This year was the year of chamber jazz for Manatea, thanks to Johnny’s unexpected demand that I stop listening to (paraphrased) “zit-popping boycore” and start acting like the Goddamned adult that I am. In keeping with his request, I happened across Julian Lage, and boy was I glad that I did. This was the first jazz review I did in 2024 and it’s still an incredible record.
8Alora Crucible
Oak Lace Apparition

NEW TERRITORY OF THE YEAR: Alora Crucible – Oak Lace Apparition

I didn’t really know what to expect walking into this album. I walked out of it in an awestruck daze. It took me two or three listens to feel like I had started to comprehend the depth of Oak Lake Apparition and honestly I still don’t feel like I do. I don’t know if the word “enjoy” was the right word to describe how I felt about this album, because (while it was an excellent listen) I felt like enjoying it wasn’t really the point. It was poignant, though-provoking and some of the best music I heard this year. Kudos to Toby Driver, I guess. You’ve got a new fan.
9156/Silence
People Watching

SLAPPER OF THE YEAR (RUNNER UP): 156/Silence – People Watching

When I listened to 156/Silence for the first time a couple of years ago, I liked them but found their music to be a bit one-dimensional. I’ll be totally honest, this album was still pretty one-dimensional, but somehow that didn’t stop it from kicking a whole lot of ass. In a year where I tried to like a lot of heavy music and failed, People Watching definitely made a strong impression, and was one of my favorite albums of the year.
10Knocked Loose
You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To

SLAPPER OF THE YEAR: Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You're Supposed To

Is it weird to anyone that Knocked Loose are becoming almost…popular? I’m pretty sure they’re touring stadiums and stuff now, or at least very large venues. But what’s not to love? The sheer aggression and heaviness of their music can be downright cathartic at times, and there doesn’t seem to be anyone doing it better than them. The adrenaline rush of this album was more than enough to make it the most memorable metal release of the year for this oversized water mammal.
11Billie Eilish
Hit Me Hard and Soft

GUILTY PLEASURE OF THE YEAR (RUNNER UP): Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft

I warmed up to Billie Eilish quite a bit with Hit Me Hard and Soft. “Birds of a Feather” was one of my favorite tracks of the entire year and the album contained some of Billie’s best work, ranging from deeply emotional melancholy to bitterly acidic humor. While it helps that she’s a local of my lovely (not really) Los Angeles, I have to say that Billie turned me into a bona fide fan this year, and I’m looking forward to following her more closely as she reaches new highs in her career.
12Charli XCX
Brat

GUILTY PLEASURE OF THE YEAR: Charli XCX – Brat

I find it kind of ironic that Charli XCX (who is close friends with Dua Lipa I believe) turned out what had to be my favorite pop album by a mile this year. Brat was everything it was supposed to be—daring, catchy and smart. The so-called “album of the summer” crafted a life of its own, and the identity of the album was a brazen middle finger at anyone who doubted that Charli could still had it. We’re all adults, and most of us are professionals, but damn sometimes it’s fun to just be a brat.
13Poppy
Negative Spaces

HONORABLE MENTION: Poppy – Negative Spaces

This album was great. Generic metalcore at it’s absolute finest and most fun. Poppy’s crystallization of her sound and the new focus at cohesion was some of the most fun I’ve had listening to a “dumb” metalcore album in years.
14Greyhaven
Stereo Grief

EP OF THE YEAR: Greyhaven – Stereo Grief

If this were an album it would have taken top spot without even a question. According to Apple Music, I listened to “Past Material” more than any other song this year, and honestly the entire EP was a diamond. Greyhaven hit their stride in the best way possible and I’m so excited for more.
15Nala Sinephro
Endlessness

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (RUNNER UP): Nala Sinephro - Endlessness

In terms of the many chamber jazz albums I listened to this year, Endlessness was my favorite. It hit that sweet spot of palatable yet masterful that made it damn near perfect. I could say a lot about this album, but I think talking about it doesn’t do it justice. Listen to this album, it will be one of the best records you’ve heard in a long time.
16Friends of Friends
Deep Search

FRIENDS OF THE YEAR:

All of you. Sputnik is a blast. I kept friends and made so many new ones too. Love you all.
17State Faults
Children of the Moon

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: State Faults – Children of the Moon

I went back and forth between Children of the Moon and Endlessness for months in regards to which album was going to be my album of the year. I knew it was one of them, but I couldn’t figure out which one I liked better. At the end of the day though, Children of the Moon resonated with me in ways that Endlessness didn’t. It might not have been as technically masterful as Endlessness, but I always put more importance on how music makes me feel over how precise it is. Children of the Moon was an outstanding record, in a cathartically emotional way. I listened to it over and over for days, something that I never do with an album anymore, and I couldn’t help but feel like it was the most important record I had listened to for the year.
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