The Parks and Recreation universe continues to expand into 2021 with the release of the debut album from previously fictional garage band Mouse Rat, fronted by resident goofball Andy Dwyer, played by Chris Pratt. Dualtone has teamed up with Entertainment 720 to release the band’s debut LP, The Awesome Album, which hits shelves on August 27.
If Entertainment 720 sounds familiar, it’s the fictional media conglomerate run into the ground by Tom Haverford (played by Aziz Ansari) and Jean-Ralphio Saperstein during the fourth season of the series. Dualtone on the other hand, is a very real Americana and folk record label based out of Nashville, TN. Dualtone President Paul Roper had this to say about their partnership with Haverford and 720 Entertainment: “Any creative business coming out of Pawnee is tied to Haverford. 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.” Mouse Rat’s 15-track album will feature vocals by Chris Pratt with special appearances by the suave saxophonist Duke Silver (aka Ron Swanson aka Nick Offerman) and fictional band Land Ho!, fronted by Wilco lead singer Jeff Tweedy.
They even got Channel 4’s Perd Hapley, the host of “Ya Heard? With Perd,” to announce the release of their first single “5000 Candles In The Wind (Bye, Bye Lil Sebastian).”
Ten years ago, the band played “5000 Candles In The Wind (Bye, Bye Lil Sebastian)” at the funeral for hometown hero and mini horse Li’l Sebastian. This first single is the “bedrock” of the album, and is available on streaming services everywhere. Many other tracks were first heard on the sitcom, including “The Pit,” “Sex Hair,” and “Catch Your Dream.” Preorders for the album are now available.
The Awesome Album tracklist:
1. 5,000 Candles in the Wind (Bye, Bye Lil Sebastian)
2. The Pit
3. Sex Hair
4. Catch Your Dream (feat. Duke Silver)
5. Two Birds Holding Hands
6. Ann Song
7. The Way You Look Tonight
8. Menace Ball
9. Remember
10. I Get A Kick Out Of You
11. Lovely Tonight
12. I’ve Got You Under My Skin
13. I Only Have Eyes For You
14. Pickled Ginger (performed by Land Ho!)
15. Cold Water (Scott Tanner feat. Duke Silver)
26 Comments
We rag on Chris Pratt all the time—rightfully so—but whenever I rewatch Parks and Recreation, I totally fall in love with Andy Dwyer. It makes perfect sense why people thought he’d make a great movie star. Pratt as an overgrown puppy is always fun, but he’s never gotten that kind of role since—with Guardians being the closest. He will probably never be as good as he is in P&R, but honestly, that’s nothing to feel bad about.
Love me some Andy Dwyer. Too bad Pratt turned out to be the kind of guy he is but I will admit he did a great job with that character.
Turned into what kind of guy exactly? I know he’s religious and has been affiliated with some dodgy churches but he’s voted dem in the past so can’t be uber right wing?Unless I’m missing something, which is very possible, it seems like a lot of projection and innuendo.
I mean, who he is probably explains why he plays Andy so well.
This is probably my favorite Andy episode
From what I recall, he showed a lot of promise just as a supporting comedy movie actor in The Five-Year Engagement. He’s also pretty funny in the final season of The O.C. I recently watched that show for the first time and was surprised to remember how goofy and likable he was in certain roles.
He was good in “Moneyball” and I was blown away how trimmed he was in that, this being around S3 or so of Parks.
He was the goofy friend in Her too. It’s the role he was born to play.
He kind of makes the Guardians role, too. Glenn Howerton was apparently up for it, and even if they changed no lines, that’s a completely different movie. Pratt has a “kid who never quite grew up” quality that lets Quill be immature without being wholly unsympathetic, whereas Howerton definitely brings a “space sociopath” energy.
Yeah, Marvel couldn’t afford to show Peter Quill running around with a collection of skin luggage.
While I completely agree with you, I’m going to spend the rest of my life dreaming of the space sociopath Howerton version of the Marvel Universe.
Pratt was likely the right call given that this was ultimately a Disney franchise where he has to hang out with Spider-Man and Captain America, but in a vacuum, it’s arguably a better movie.
I don’t rag on Chris Pratt. I do not expect actors to dictate my feelings on political issues.
Me too. Pratt’s golden in the outtakes, too. This cast was just electric together. I know they had a good run, but I still miss seeing them all bouncing off one another.
What are you talking about? Chris who? It’s not like the people on that show aren’t real and my close personal friends.
The moment I knew that Parks and Rec was something that could be really funny and worth watching a second season of, was in the final episode of season 1 where Andy lists off all the different names his band was called before MouseRat.
I’ve always found it odd that Andy Dwyer plays a variety of $2,000+ Martin and Taylor guitars. This is especially true early in the series when it’s clear he doesn’t have much money.
Now you know why he doesn’t have much money.
True, having one nice guitar is maybe plausible. Right after I graduated from college I dropped $1,200 on a Gibson Les Paul Studio at a time in life when I had no business spending that kind of money on a guitar.
I honestly would have preferred if they had just re-released the Duke Silver albums All Up In My Jazz, A Warm Bathtub Full Of My Jazz, and, my personal favorite, Rest In Jazz.Also, does this Mouse Rat album have the non-explicit alternate version of Sex Hair, Sex Bear?
Joke’s on y’all though, it’s gonna be a Christian Rock record
I really, really want a bonus track of Andy singing “a little babe-ay.” I still sing that to myself several times a week.
Chris Pratt tries to keep everyone distracted from his problematic political beliefs and problematic church affiliations.
Not working ‘round these parts. We’re on to him.
feels like something that should have come out like 5-10 years ago? are we just gonna have weird zombie products like this forever, for shows that are long done but need new streaming promo?