Even though Parks and Recreation came to an end over six years ago, the NBC comedy is still feeling the love. Last year, the cast did a reunion special and now it seems like Chris Pratt’s band from the show is releasing an actual album. And it sounds, no pun intended, awesome.
Announced by none other than Pawnee television journalist and host of the television news programs Ya Heard? With Perd! and The Final Word With Perd, Perd Hapley (Jay Jackson), Parks and Recreation’s fictional band, Mouse Rat, is releasing an album. 10 years after Li'l Sebastian (RIP) went to mini horse Heaven, Mouse Rat, formed by Chris Pratt’s Andy Dwyer, is celebrating his miniature life by releasing “5,000 Candles In The Wind,” as well as a 16-track album, titled The Awesome Album.
The Awesome Album features the singalong of “5,000 Candles in the Wind (Bye Bye Li’l Sebastian)," as well as other fake songs performed or mentioned on Parks and Recreation. To make the album even more realistic, the album is being released by DualTone and Entertainment 720, the fictional company created by Aziz Ansari’s character Tom Haverford. Some songs included are “Sex Hair” that Mouse Rat performed at the Pawnee Cares Telethon and “The Pit,” inspired by the city’s giant sinkhole. Featured artists also include Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson’s smooth jazz alter ego, Duke Silver, as well as Land Ho!, Parks and Rec’s famed Pawnee rock band fronted by Jeff Tweedy’s character, Scott Tanner.
Last year when the Parks and Recreation cast held a virtual reunion, or more like a special episode as their characters were all quarantining but Zooming each other, they ended it with a singalong of “5,000 Candles In the Wind” since Li’l Sebastian could sadly not make it. The episode was just more proof that even after six years, Pawnee’s Parks and Recreation Department remains a staple in many peoples’ lives. The Awesome Album is another way to keep the show going and for another generation to get sucked into the comedic lives of Leslie, Ron, Andy, Ann and everyone else in the department.
The announcement of The Awesome Album comes exactly a decade after the Season 3 episode, “Li’l Sebastian,” premiered, in which Pawnee’s famous mini-horse died. “5,000 Candles In the Wind” is a tribute to him, and after Andy receives praise for the song, April sells many Mouse Rat CDs at an inflated price. The song is available now to download, buy and stream, while The Awesome Album is available for pre-order. Soon, all of Mouse Rat’s songs, and more, will be at your fingertips, and not just on your TV!
While waiting for The Awesome Album to release, Parks and Recreation is available to stream on Peacock.
