THE LOWDOWN

Impress your friends when these bands get big 10 months from now

DAN BRYK

Album: Lover's Leap (Scratchie; www.scratchie.com)

Headquarters: Canada

Sound Like: An urbane singer-songwriter whose proud geekiness is tempered by Lennon-esque production and vulnerability.

Claim to Fame: Bryk has been called "the Jimmy Webb of the new millennium" by Guided By Voices founder Bob Pollard.

Kindred Spirits: Rufus Wainwright, an emotionally stable Daniel Johnston, Ben Folds.