A brainier version of Nashville-style country-pop? Or perhaps a catchier, more lighthearted take on modern folk? Whatever pigeonhole fits (or doesn’t), this Canadian duo delivers a batch of tunefully intelligent numbers on Best Day. Singer/songwriters Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther have a gift for framing their lyric vignettes in hook-laden melodies fleshed out with supple acoustic guitar work and seamless harmonies. Relationships are a recurring topic here, captured with fragile optimism on “I’m Not Alone” and tender nostalgia on “First Love.” “Lennon and McCartney”—a wryly affectionate sketch of a finicky boyfriend—is a particular high point. Even better are “Peggy” and “Father,” a pair of exquisitely drawn family portraits. The literary ruminations of “Virginia Woolf” are balanced with the storytelling flair of “Life on Earth” and the jazzy hijinks of “Too Many Kittens.” Michael Roth’s production dresses up the tracks with spare use of keyboards, percussion, and strings. Throughout, Dala accomplishes the neat trick of making music that’s both smart and engaging, blending Indigo Girls–like earnestness with Jewel Kircher’s pop instincts.