New York has a thing for giving us special bands. Even though they may have been born and raised outside the concrete jungle, for some reason - when bands make New York their base and begin making music there, the results can be magic.

Coming less than a month after their version of"Bohemian Rhapsody" took the world by storm, the Muppets have unleashed their own interpretation of festive classic "Ringing of the Bells".

As Kelis is one of my favourite female solo artists, I was excited to hear that she's releasing new material after a three-year hiatus.

Only the other day, I held a discourse with someone about the recent musical output of Alicia Keys - saying how I felt it wasn't on the same level as the songs she was producing between 2001-2004 (apart from her recent collaboration with Jay-Z). And then I heard the undeniably epic "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart". Now I feel a complete fool...

He’s the musical legend that rose to fame with his folk infused political protest songs in the 60s. He’s been on a never-ending tour for some two decades. And importantly, he’s the master of re-invention. When people loved him for his acoustic folk, he went electric. When they loved him for his electric, he became Christian and sung about being saved.

Ever since I first came across "Empire State of Mind", I keep asking myself the same question: can a song get any better than this?

After hearing Rihanna's new single Russian Roulette for the second time, I am now convinced that this is the most brilliant song of 2009. First time around, I wasn't entirely sure (probably not aided by my reading of Twitter comments), but I now 100% believe that this is an "Unbreak My Heart" for the 21st century. Though I still don't like the unecessary gunshot at the end.

Watching the MTV Video Music Awards this year, I couldn’t help feeling dismal. Like everyone else, I tuned in- remote control at the ready, waiting to see a show.

So Mariah "Sparkle Pony" Carey's "Obsessed" is about Eminem, right? Right? What prize do I win for the sheer obviousness of Mariah's summer pop ode to her ego? A bootleg copy of The Real Slim Shady? A DVD collectors edition of Wild'n Out?

The incredibly talented New York-based indie rock duo talk to Seven about their latest album and career so far