These are my favorite pop CDs of the year, IN NO ORDER:

Destroyer - Your Blues: The first of three solo projects from members of the Canadian indie supergroup the New Pornographers on my list, Destroyer is the solo band of the Pornos' other singer/songwriter (he's their Christine McVie/George Harrison/Fred Schnieder/Joey Spampinato/Joe Walsh type), Dan Bejar. This, Destroyer's fourth album, is fey and wise and funny and reminds me (OK, not just me, everybody) of Hunky-Dory era Bowie, long a Bejar touchstone. But these songs are elegant and really sweet, with organic-sounding analog synth sounds and acoustic guitars. Two of the best cuts, "It's Gonna Take and Airplane" and "The Music Lovers," are widely available legally for free on the net, including here.

A.C. Newman — The Slow Wonder: This is the solo debut from the main Porno man. It's full of cool power-pop that will remind fans of Big Star and the B-52s and the Beach Boys and ELO. These songs are just irresistibly catchy, and Newman's voice is miked better and sounds more expressive than on the Pornos occasionally snarky output.

Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken: Neko is the featured singer in the New Pornographers, and probably the most established as a solo performer. This great album, though, should bring her to a new level of recognition. (I guess it already has).She's more country-rock in her solo stuff, which is all worth hearing. I reviewed this album here a month or so ago and my love for it hasn't diminished a bit. It's live, and the song choices, including originals, traditionals, and cool covers, are inspired. The singing is otherworldly. This is probably the album of the year for me.

The Silos - When the Telephone Rings: Old Walter Salas-Humara and his Silos continue to carry the torch for post-punk honest guitar rock. Walter is one of the only folks I can think of that could play comfortably on a bill with Sonic Youth or John Cougar. This latest one has the usual great songs with great riffs and thoughtful lyrics. It will sell to the same 11,000 people who bought the last one.

Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose: This has been hyped as a great comeback, and it is. These totally frank, true songs stand out like lighthouses of real, intelligent emotions in a sea of vapid pop crap that is most of Nashvillania these days. Stunning, and by far the best thing Jack White has ever touched.

Jolie Holland - Escondida: This lady's got a Tom Waits connection, and you can hear it in the scrappy sounds and lopey, swinging, airy, homemade sounding arrangements. She's a wily singer, too. It feels like I've known these songs since I was a kid. "Old Fashioned Morphine" is available for free somewhere out there, because that's where I first heard her. Google it, or just buy the whole CD and trust me on this one.