Polyvinyl is proud to announce the release of Exquisite Corpse – a real-time sonic experiment featuring 45+ musicians across the PV family tree, past and present, reconfigured into new and unexpected collaborative projects. This uniquely meta "Various Artists" compilation includes 11 tracks and album artwork created in the spirit of the 'Exquisite Corpse' game where each player adds to a shared drawing. Pre-order your limited edition first pressing on Concrete Gray x Red Swirl vinyl + a Four Color Silkscreen Print from our store today. 

During the first days of quarantine lockdown, Kaia Fischer of Rainer Maria began to conceptualize what would grow into Exquisite Corpse. In total, 47 participants rounded out 11 groups of 4-5 musicians, assembled more or less at random from all ends of our roster, with each team working from scratch to write an original song basically over email. 

Musically, the results are every bit as exciting and unpredictable as the concept envisioned, with collaborators spanning the globe – from London, Tokyo, Nova Scotia, LA, New Zealand, and Louisville. Even though Exquisite Corpse is timestamped with traces of overwhelming uncertainty that colored the pandemic's earliest days, the music is by-and-large joyful, daring, and fun. With contributions from longtime label signees to more recent roster additions, Exquisite Corpse captures the spirit of kinship and community that is foundational to Polyvinyl's Midwest roots.

$2 from every physical & digital sale will be donated to the MusiCares – a non-profit organization that has provided more than $60 million in health, financial, and rehabilitation resources to musicians in their time of need. Actor/director (and contributing Polyvinyl alum) Mark Duplass has also pledged a $5,000 donation.

Exquisite Corpse is now available digitally across all platforms and will arrive physically on December 18.

  1. "Yer Brothers" - David Bazan (Pedro The Lion), Phil Dickey (Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin), Nate Kinsella (American Football/Birthmark), Nick Wilkerson (White Reaper)
  2. "Somebody Else" - Erik Czaja (Pet Symmetry), Gus Lobban (Kero Kero Bonito), Christie Simpson (Yumi Zouma), Shugo Tokumaru (Shugo Tokumaru)
  3. "SLOW DRIVE" - Shaun Fleming (Diane Coffee), Will Knauer (Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin), Cale Parks (Aloha/Cale Parks), Charlie Ryder (Yumi Zouma)
  4. "To The Beach" - Mark Duplass (Volcano, I'm Still Excited!!), Kaia Fischer (Rainer Maria), Ellen Kempner (Palehound), Jeff Rosenstock (Jeff Rosenstock/Antarctigo Vespucci)
  5. "Whole Life Holy Death" - Chris Broach (Braid), Vice Cooler (xbxrx), Rocky Tinder (Wampire), Ary Warnaar (Anamanaguchi)
  6. "Do U Remember" - Robert Pope (The Get Up Kids), Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu), Fred Thomas (Fred Thomas/Saturday Looks Good To Me), Ella Williams (Squirrel Flower)
  7. "Perfect Vision" - Keil Corcoran (STRFKR), Katy Goodman (La Sera/Vivian Girls), Chris Hansen (matt pond PA), Mike Kinsella (American Football/Owen), Matt Pond (matt pond PA)
  8. "So Much To See" - Jess Abbott (Tancred), James Alex (Beach Slang/Quiet Slang), Bob Nanna (Braid), Luke Silas (Anamanaguchi)
  9. "Some Storms" - Peter Berkman (Anamanaguchi), Erin Fein (Psychic Twin/Headlights), TJ Lipple (Aloha), Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids), Nick Thorburn (Mister Heavenly)
  10. "Lonely" - Pip Brown (Ladyhawke), Josh Burgess (Yumi Zouma), Chris Farren (Chris Farren/Antarctigo Vespucci), Marcus Nuccio (Pet Symmetry), Cameron Spies (Radiation City)
  11. "Nude Looks" - Brian Borcherdt (Dusted), Caithlin De Marrais (Rainer Maria), Ryan Pope (The Get Up Kids), Post Animal (Post Animal)