Faces to watch

Arcade Fire

Pop

The new band from Canada is blessed with such charm, mystery, sophistication and craft that it could either captivate rock fans or mystify them during 2005. The music has artful, imaginative touches reminiscent of the Pixies and, especially, Talking Heads, and its themes about survival and loss are thoughtful and haunting. Arcade Fire isn’t on a major label, a hurdle to achieving radio exposure and sales. But the group will spend much of the year touring, which could build grass-roots enthusiasm.

-- Robert Hilburn

Little Brother

Rap

The Durham, N.C., trio’s understated debut album on ABB Records (also the launching pad for Dilated Peoples and Defari), 2003’s “The Listening,” earned rappers Phonte and Big Pooh and DJ-producer 9th Wonder comparisons to revered rap group a Tribe Called Quest. 9th Wonder’s freelance production work for Jay-Z and underground L.A. rapper Murs has added to the group’s acclaim and momentum, setting the stage for its Atlantic Records debut in the summer.

-- Soren Baker

Shooter Jennings

Country

The son of original country music outlaw Waylon Jennings and Jessi (“I’m Not Lisa”) Colter has inherited his parents’ penchant for steering clear of convention. Like his dad’s music, Jennings’ debut album (due March 1) prefers raw emotion and ragged musicality to the polish of Nashville. He’ll tour this year and make his big-screen debut in the Johnny Cash-June Carter biopic “Walk the Line.” Three guesses whose good-hearted-woman-lovin’ daddy he portrays.

-- Randy Lewis

Reyli

Latin

For 11 years, Reyli Barba was lead singer of Mexican rock/pop group Elefante, distinguished by his husky baritone and catchy songwriting. After going solo, the Chiapas-born artist dropped his surname and expanded his success in his homeland. With his collection of candid love songs selling more than 200,000 copies on his home turf, the newly merged Sony/BMG label is planning a 2005 push for Reyli in two more pivotal markets, Spain and Argentina.

-- Agustin Gurza

Eldar Djangirov

Jazz

He’s only 17, but the youthful pianist emigre from Kyrgyzstan has already been praised by the likes of Billy Taylor and Benny Carter and performed at the opening of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s new Rose Hall. Described as a “young Art Tatum” by Jazziz magazine, San Diego-based Djangirov blends brilliant technical virtuosity with a strikingly mature improvisational imagination and a driving sense of swing. “Eldar,” his first album for the Sony Classical label, will be released in March.

-- Don Heckman

Monica Salmaso

World music

The winner of the El Dorado prize for best singer in Brazil, Salmaso could easily have applied her velvet-toned voice to typically high voltage Brazilian pop settings. Instead, as in her current album, “Iaia,” she has elected to emphasize her musicality within a wide array of colorful interpretations. In the process, Salmaso is bringing an airy, transformative quality to contemporary Brazilian music.

-- D.H.