Carried by groovy bass, bright guitars, dreamy vocals and incredibly relatable lyrics, Must Be Nice, the new EP from rising indie-pop duo, 49th & Main is the perfect soundtrack to your summer. Short yet sweet, these seven songs find Ben O’Sullivan and Paddy King exploring the highs and lows of young adulthood in a way that will resonate with just about anyone.
The timeless opening track, “Up To Something” feels like the perfect start to a rowdy night out and effortlessly sets the tone for the songs to follow with a strong bassline and catchy chorus. Meanwhile the bright yet bittersweet “Human Condition” finds the duo leaning heavily into dreamy synth while lyrically, they reminisce on the things that we all regret doing or not doing. Showcasing their versatility is the dance-heavy “Never Gonna Stop”, which should feel out of place between songs like “Human Condition” and “Streetlights”, but it just works.
Rounding out the end of the EP are the final three tracks; the soon to be summer anthem, “Tom”, high energy and gritty “Dillinger” and the atmospheric, dreamy final song, “No Sleep.” Although each song on Must Be Nice has a very distinct sound and mood, they surprisingly flow together with ease. Rather than coming off as choppy or meandering, the EP feels incredibly full and well thought out, with no two songs sounding the same, easily showcasing 49th & Main’s songwriting abilities. Arriving just in time to blast in the car during summer road trips or out by the pool, Must Be Nice is an exciting, easy to listen to record.