Adele, “Rolling In The Deep”

It was astonishingly ubiquitous (okay, overplayed), but every time I hear this I’m still astonished at how good it is. Adele’s voice finds its perfect showcase, hitting pleading high notes and low, dirty growls. “You’re gonna wish you / Never had met me,” the backup singers chirp ominously, as the kick drum pounds a threat. And through it all “Rolling In The Deep” remains ridiculously catchy, inspiring daily earworms and a million ill-advised sing-alongs (most of which were mine).

Bry Webb, “Rivers Of Gold”

Rivers of Gold by Idée Fixe Records

In this love letter to a a carefree moment in time, Webb extols the virtues of living just the way I’d like to: “free of fear and full of love.”

Camp Radio, “The Girl Who Stole My Motorbike”

This fuzzy powerpop charmer is so catchy that it gets stuck in my head every time I so much as see a motorcycle parked on the roadside.

Handsome Furs, “Serve The People”

Though inspired by the oppressive governments of east Asia, this song hits literally and figuratively closer to home since the recent wave of police brutality in response to the Occupy movement. “You kick ‘em in the head and you kick ‘em when they’re down / You don’t serve the people.”

Hawk and Steel, “Telephone Calls”

This beautifully mournful Americana piece swells to a tortured climax with heavy guitars and the rising lament of vocalist Peter Gardner before fading to a last sad whisper: “The telephone’s ringing down the hall / I wonder who you’re with tonight.” “Telephone Calls” finds the pathos at the heart of the traditional country song and presents it without devolving into caricature the way so much modern country does. This is the simple, prosaic sadness of the stranger next to you at the bar, expressed in five minutes of sonic poetry.

Take a listen on their Sound on the Sound introduction.

See the rest of Brittney’s Second Annual Not-Entirely-Canadian Ten (of the) Best Songs of 2011

Hey Rosetta!, “Yer Spring”

A soaring, triumphant anthem of hope, “Yer Spring” is instantly likable and nearly irresistible. When you have your head thrown back singing along, I guarantee you won’t care that the title’s spelled funny.

Library Voices, “Reluctant Readers Make Reluctant Lovers”

For the name alone.

Mika, “Elle Me Dit”

French radio, I discovered this September over dozens of hours and hundreds of rental-car kilometers, is mostly a wasteland of bad techno and bland English pop. Every time this came on it would restore a little of my soul, and the feeling in my feet as I tapped them. The first French-language single from British singer Mika, “Elle Me Dit” is adorable and catchy, a perfect dance-pop confection that’s delicious even if (like me) you mostly only understand the pronouns.

Pickwick, “Window Sill”

“Window Sill” not only showcases Pickwick singer Galen Disston’s trademark soul music sound, but builds on it, adding dirty blues depth and a foot-stomping, church chorus refrain. With the faithful fans of the Pickwick Legion stomping along, this one might literally bring down the house.

Wild Flag, “Romance”

Listen to this song and try not to bounce around the room. I dare you. A joyful ode to love and music (or maybe the love of music), “Romance” pops like Pop Rocks and makes your body do the same. “Hey, can you feel it? / The way it sways you? / The hum in your chest?”