“Rolling in the Deep” Adele (#6 Hot 100, Week of April 30, 2011)

Somewhere, Joss Stone is having a meltdown right now.  “Why not me?!” she’s screaming, as Adele rides an enormous wave of popularity as the Brit pop-soul phenom of the moment.

Adele might respond that she may not possess the two-ton wallop of a voice that Joss has, but one ton will do just fine, thanks, especially when it’s grounded in some really solid musicianship.

This dark, rollicking song could be the much more understated, ominous cousin of Cee-Lo’s “Forget You.”  Or a creepy companion to “Every Breath You Take,” with its sinister bass and piano and Stepford Supremes background singers.

Like Cee-Lo, Adele further confirms my belief that pop music is not dead.  We can debate the musical merits of Gucci Mane and Britney Spears (and believe me, I’ll get around to it), but as a common denominator, it is comforting to know that there will always be Adele and artists of her ilk to chug out powerhouse musical art.