Parks and Recreation’s resident band Mouse Rat are making a proper go of things in the musical rat race. Fronted by Chris Pratt, who plays Andy Dwyer in the mockumentary sitcom, the group are set to release ‘The Awesome Album’ on August 27.
Mouse Rat shared the news on a meaningful band landmark: the tenth anniversary of Li’l Sebastian’s funeral. A miniature horse beloved by the residents of Pawnee, Li’l Sebastian (who made his first and final appearances in Season Three) lived a rich and inspiring life. Following his passing, the show’s Parks Department hosts a pyrotechnic memorial service fit for a local celebrity, and Andy performs a stirring tribute song with Mouse Rat at the service. Now, the band have released ‘5,000 Candles In The Wind (Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian)’ as their debut single proper.
‘The Awesome Album’ will feature loads of classic songs from Parks and Rec
Mouse Rat’s debut will feature heaps of familiar favourites from Amy Poehler’s sitcom, including the band’s sink-hole inspired grunge anthem ‘The Pit’, and the indie-tinged ‘Sex Hair’ – as performed on the Pawnee Cares diabetes telethon.
‘The Awesome Album’ will also include some famous covers, too. Andy’s version of Fred Astaire’s ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ (originally from the 1963 film Swing Time, and covered by Mouse Rat at Leslie Knope’s Galentines Day party in season 2) appears on the album, along with a cover of Frank Sinatra signature ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’.
'The Awesome Album's tracklist in full:
- “5,000 Candles In The Wind (Bye Bye Li’l Sebastian)”
- “The Pit”
- “Sex Hair”
- “Catch Your Dream” (Feat. Duke Silver)
- “Two Birds Holding Hands”
- “Ann Song”
- “The Way You Look Tonight”
- “Menace Ball”
- “Remember”
- “I Get A Kick Out Of You”
- “Lovely Tonight”
- “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”
- “I Only Have Eyes For You”
- “Pickled Ginger” (Performed By Land Ho!)
- “Cold Water” (Performed By Land Ho!’s Scott Tanner w/ Dick Silver)
Look out for some other familiar faces from the show, too
Guest stars include Duke Silvers, the tenor sax-playing jazz alter-ego of Nick Offerman’s character Ron Swanson, and local rock band Land Ho!, who are fronted by Scott Tanner (played by singer Jeff Tweedy of Wilco).
‘The Awesome Album’ is also being released by another familiar organisation. It’s out on Dualtone Music Group and Entertainment 720 – the fictional company founded by Parks and Rec's Tom Haverford (played by Aziz Ansari)
“Any creative business coming out of Pawnee is tied to Haverford,” reads a statement from label president Paul Roper. “From Rent-a-Swag to Tommy Fresh cologne and Tom’s Bistro, not to mention his business ideas not yet formed like the scented phone, talking tissues, contact lenses that display text messages, and the glitter-infused laundry detergent Sparkle Suds, partnering with Entertainment 720’s hype machine was essential. The man is an idea factory.”