When you hear that a new indie-rock supergroup is being formed, consisting of players you adore across the board, it’s exciting.

I don’t know how I only heard of the band Snocaps when I was asked to review it, very late in the game, on the day of its release last Friday. While I missed out on hearing the news earlier, it was also decidedly not a bad assignment, as I assumed I would love it.

Waxahatchee’s Saint Cloud was my eighth favorite album of 2020, and leader Katie Crutchfield consistently places albums in my year-end rankings. Her sister Allison Crutchfield also has some quality pop, including her band Swearin’s Tourist in This Town, which hit #18 on my 2018 year-end chart. Then there’s MJ Lenderman, also a sometimes-member of current darlings Wednesday and creator of my 34th favorite record last year. Rounding out Snocaps is Brad Cook, arguably the lesser of the four Snocaps superstars but still a noted producer of lots of acclaimed bands including Bon Iver.

“Coast” and “Heathcliff” lead off the self-titled album with driving upbeat party-worthy numbers, and it’s clear from that moment we are seeing a reunion of the still-beautiful harmonies of the identical Crutchfield twins. Despite Katie’s stunning success with Waxahatchee in recent years, there’s no way she’s anything but an equal to her sis, who often offers the ultra-poppy side of this band.

“Wasteland” and “Brand New City,” the next two songs on the 13-track collection, lean into that pop territory, settling into a bouncy, cheery, and upbeat groove. The first four songs may be near perfection, but the rest of the songs never dip much in quality. There are country and pop joys abounding the whole way through.

The band fits into a proud line of groups that have been inspired by candies for their names, including Lemonheads and Squirrel Nut Zippers. Sno-Caps are “small pieces of semi-sweet chocolate candy covered with white nonpareils.” That description fits the sound of Snocaps. Having not played together in many years, since their band PS Eliot, the Crutchfield have written a love letter to the many diehard fans of that long-ago band. Those fans, and all the rest of us, will be happy they are back playing pop that is pretty darn unmatched.

Order Snocaps by Snocaps HERE