Arguably, the world doesn’t need another song about New York City any more than the Red Hot Chili Peppers need another love letter to California. Still, NYC remains an asphalt jungle—its skyline boxed in by concrete, its daily rhythm a relentless hustle to survive. Unless you’re Aaron Judge, it’s not a place for the faint of heart. Ben Musser, however, finds a fresh angle on a well-worn subject, framing his take on the Big Apple around the timeless pull of the piano.
Glide is premiering the ’70s style piano rocker “New York Is The Place,” a track that shimmers with nods to Ziggy-era Bowie while tipping its hat to the Brill Building pop gems born within the city’s walls. Musser blends power-pop muscle reminiscent of Aaron Lee Tasjan with the lived-in relatability of Todd Snider, shaping it all into a thoughtful, finely honed singer-songwriter statement that feels classic without sounding stuck in the past.
Musser’s new album Sentimental Fever (out May 1 via Blackbird Record Label) reframes classic pop and soul through a rich blend of folk-rock, Americana, blues, and even hints of ’50s doo-wop. Across the record, Musser takes stock of the sentimental anchors in his life—being a good husband, fatherhood, loves lost and found—while confronting the quiet insecurities that come with raising a family and measuring personal growth over time. More than just the first album released under his own name (formerly Benyaro), Sentimental Fever stands as the singular vision of a one-man band: Musser wrote every song and played nearly every instrument himself. In an era dominated by digital shortcuts, it’s a classic-minded album made for the modern age.
The album was co-produced with Grammy-winning legend Scott Mathews, whose résumé includes work with The Beach Boys, Jack Nitzsche, Mick Jagger, Van Morrison, and Roy Orbison. Mathews contributed drums and spinet on two tracks, along with background vocals, while Musser handled the rest—recording drums, keys, guitar, bass, accordion, and more during an intense two-week session. Sentimental Fever was mastered by Jeff Lipton, known for his work with Bob Mould, Andrew Bird, Madison Cunningham, Alejandro Escovedo, and Stephen Malkmus.
Musser’s résumé reflects years spent deep in the American roots ecosystem. He has collaborated with Danny Kadar (The Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses), played in a band with Aaron Lee Tasjan, toured with The Infamous Stringdusters and Anders Osborne, and shared stages with artists ranging from Shovels and Rope and Malcolm Holcombe to Gary Clark Jr., Buddy Guy, The Wood Brothers, Devon Allman Brotherhood, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and Cedric Burnside. He has appeared at SXSW, Treefort Music Fest, and the Sundance Film Festival, with coverage from outlets including Relix, HuffPost, No Depression, Glide, Twangville, and Americana UK.