7/10

For fans of the hit TV show Parks And Recreation, the release of Mouse Rat's debut studio album 'The Awesome Album' has been a long time coming. Despite the show coming to an end in 2013, and the band's lead singer Chris Pratt rising to become one of Hollywood's most beloved stars since, it felt like this record would never happen. But after eight years of waiting, the Pawneeian group have at long last delivered on a promise that many have been waiting over a decade for.

While this new collection is more about paying lip-service to those longstanding fans, given that the majority of the songs here have been heard throughout the show's eight year runtime, 'The Awesome Album' is one of those much needed doses of nostalgia, taking us back to a happier pre-pandemic time. The band rattle through plenty of fan favourites including '5000 Candles In The Wind (Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian)', 'Sex Hair' and 'Catch Your Dream' featuring the mysterious sax player Duke Silver to deliver a fun and jovial release, brimming with shimmering pop-rock anthems that dabble in the classic rock and country sound as often as possible.

But despite the band being seen as a running joke on the show, Mouse Rat still manage to create a full-length with more confidence than some of their more serious contemporary counterparts. If you enjoy awkwardly forward lyrics, power chord cliches, and ripping off Lynyrd Skynyrd, then look no further than 'The Awesome Album'.