Megan & Liz, Pet Shop Boys, Shanell + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

This week's roundup features a sure-to-be summer smash by a power pop twin sister act, some smooth throwback R&B by a Young Money chanteuse on the rise, and a thundering club anthem by the most influential electronic pop duo of all time. Listen on!

This week's roundup features a soon-to-be summer smash, some smooth throwback R&B by a Young Money chanteuse, and more in 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week.

1.) Megan & Liz, "Release You"

Ladies and gentlemen: Your new summer anthem has officially arrived. Twin sister act Megan & Liz made their way to internet fame over the past few years after releasing a series of covers, as well as their adorable "Call Me Maybe" alternative, "Bad For Me," last year. But now they're coming out blazing: "Release You," which was produced by the almighty pop trio of Max Martin, Shellback, and Savan Kotecha, is an utterly massive breakup banger packed with soaring melodies, sassy kiss-off lyricism ("I would take all your shhh..."), and glitchy beat explosions. It's basically Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" meets Icona Pop's "I Love It" with a dash of Carly Rae Jepsen thrown in for good measure. Breaking up is hard to do, but Megan & Liz sure know how to make it sound like fun.

+ LISTEN TO MEGAN & LIZ, "RELEASE YOU"

Listen to more Must-Hear Pop Songs after the jump.

2.) Pet Shop Boys, "Vocal"

Less than a year after releasing their shimmering Elysium last fall, Pet Shop Boys are already returning this summer with a brand-new record called Electric, produced by Stuart Price -- the man responsible for Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor and Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite. After a couple teases, "Vocal" is the electronic duo's first official offering, a thundering (and completely meta) dance floor anthem that celebrates what truly matters -- the music. "Anything I want to say out loud will be sung / It's in the music," Neil Tennant proclaims as the track builds into a wild explosion of arena-friendly beats (no doubt the reason they're already performing this one out on tour worldwide). The boys genuinely haven't sounded this great in years; everything about this one feels right.

+ LISTEN TO PET SHOP BOYS, "VOCAL"

3.) Shanell, "Catch Me At The Light"

Young Money/Cash Money Records chanteuse Shanell has been flying under the radar for more than a minute now, but with some luck, her brand-new mixtape, Midnight Mimosas, should catch her some mainstream love. The collection's got a bunch of seductive throwback jams, including "Catch Me At The Light," an early '90s-tinged, laid-back R&B groove that sees the songstress breezily rattling off fancy car names while taking a turn behind the wheel for some late-night cruisin'. "Catch me at the light / I see you creeping up / If you want some conversation/ speed it up," she taunts. Better step on it, boys!

+ LISTEN TO SHANELL, "CATCH ME AT THE LIGHT"

4.) Betty Who, "High Society (Soundmen Remix)"

Rising pop star Betty Who (who's sort of like Robyn and Katy Perry thrown into a fabulous blonde-bewigged blender) has been buzzing 'round the blogosphere ever since the premiere of her The Movement EP, a four-track selection of gems, like the lovey-dovey, Whitney Houston-esque jam "Somebody Loves You" and "You're In Love." Now, the EP's dreamy closer "High Society" has gotten a special refix, courtesy of remix/production duo The Soundmen, who inject a throwback hip-hop twist on the otherwise regal pop production. The infusion of summery beats smooth out the glistening number, pleasing hipsters and society's most elite alike.

+ LISTEN TO BETTY WHO, "HIGH SOCIETY (SOUNDMEN REMIX)"

5.) Natalia Kills, Problem (Kat Krazy Remix)"

Back in March, Cherrytree Records' dark-pop diva Natalia Kills dropped "Problem," the snarling lead track from her upcoming album, Trouble, and now the song's being serviced for some serious dance floor slayage. The Kat Krazy remix of Miss Kills' gritty number twists the menacing track into a seriously scorching stomper, which takes the singer and her sky-high stilettos onto the floor amid smoke machines and strobe lights. As it turns out, that girl is still very much a problem (but in the best way).

+ LISTEN TO NATALIA KILLS, "PROBLEM (KAT KRAZY REMIX)"

Bradley Stern is a writer from New York. In his spare time, he enjoys organizing his Britney Spears CD collection in reverse chronological order and writing impassioned letters to Congress urging that Madonnalogy be taught in all public schools. But most of all, he spends his time tweeting and musing daily about pop music on his blog, MuuMuse.

Photo credit: Getty Images

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