10 Great 2009 Debut Albums, Starring Mi Ami

After last week's countdown of the Top 10 breakout acts of 2009, I thought it might be apt to take a look at the brand new bands whose debuts may not have been the biggest of the year, but, rather, the best.

Bands like Mi Ami. Their totally great Watersports LP seemed to get lost in the shuffle from the moment their record-label, Touch & Go, shut up shop right after its release.

Formed in San Francisco by guitarist/vocalist Daniel Martin-McCormick and bassist Jacob Long, former members of shouty, post-punk-ish DC noiseniks Black Eyes, Mi Ami play sprawling, rippling, polyrhythmic music that sounds like a particularly loose take on punk-funk. Played underwater.

Watersports was, for my money, one of 2009's most striking first albums. And here's a bunch more: 10 Great 2009 Debut Albums, for your perusin' pleasure.

Photo © Jonathan Snyder