The Shins - Australia

APR 09 2007 · 12:00

The Shins - Australia (2007) Director: Matt McCormick Era: Mid-2000s Indie Rock Golden Age (2007) - Peak era of Sub Pop-signed indie rock crossover, defined by lo-fi narrative charm, Pacific Northwest scene dominance, and post-Garden State indie cultural saturation. High curatorial value as a well-documented, director-confirmed artifact of the 2007 Sub Pop indie rock scene. The video's complete production credits, confirmed location, and identifiable director make it a reliable primary source. Its thematic coherence between song, narrative, and visual metaphor, combined with McCormick's standing as a significant Pacific Northwest experimental filmmaker, makes it an exemplary case of art-world sensibility applied to commercial music video production. Context: Released in April 2007 as the second single from The Shins' third album 'Wincing the Night Away' (Sub Pop), 'Australia' arrived at the apex of indie rock's mainstream crossover period, accelerated by the band's earlier exposure via the 2004 film Garden State. Director Matt McCormick, a central figure in Portland's experimental film community and founder of the Peripheral Produce distribution label, brought a wry, Pacific Northwest sensibility to the video. The heist-and-balloon narrative functions as a visual metaphor for liberation from mundane, confining labor, themes that mirror James Mercer's own stated lyrical inspiration: the psychic toll of dead-end office work. The orange-jumpsuit costuming and suburban Vancouver, Washington setting ground the video's existential comedy in working-class Americana, resonating with indie rock's broader anti-corporate cultural positioning in the mid-2000s. Director notes: Directed for Sub Pop Records, produced by Food Chain Films. Cinematography by Greg Schmitt. Production design by Jonny Fenix and Ryan Smith. Shot on location in Vancouver, Washington. The video depicts the band members in matching orange jumpsuits executing a comedic balloon heist at a car dealership, one member distracts salespeople while the others steal gas-filled balloons affixed to cars. The group escapes in a van, picks up the decoy, and releases the balloons in an open field. Released April 14, 2007 (US). Video is listed on McCormick's official portfolio site at mattmccormick.art.