eMusic premieres Stephen Paul Smoker's "Green City" from debut LP "Ripe Fruit" out via Kilo Records

Today eMusic premieres "Green City," the first video from Stephen Paul Smoker's debut LP Ripe Fruit, out now on Kilo Records.

The song we’re featuring could be influenced by Sonic Youth, maybe some stuff on AmRep, but there are also Bay City Roller handclaps and something that calls to mind Julee Cruise‘s “Falling” (AKA The song from Twin Peaks.) Maybe Six Organs of Admittance attempting to make an industrial album is an adequate summation? The video itself fits somewhere between something Trent Reznor envisioned for a single from The Downward Spiral and The Ring, and kinda scares me in a good way.

Wach the video for "Green City," grab the album track - premiered at RCRD LBL, who called the track "dirty music for dirty times" - listen to all of Ripe Fruit and check out the vinyl here.

Incessant stomp, gutter guitar that evolves to squall, psychedelic canyon vocals and elements of disco all appear in 'Green City' by Chicago act Stephen Paul Smoker. This is dirty music for dirty times

RCRD LBL

Experimental musician Stephen Paul Smoker has cast an eerie glow upon Chicago music.

Pop Matters

The jangly pop and jaded wisdom of his songwriting meld into an anti Summer of Love album, where the blinding sun reveals that all that glitters is not gold.
The Gramophone

Psychedelic rockers Stephen Paul Smoker emanate a certain kind of haunting, distortion-filled noise cloud that could fill a room with swirling, smoky colors.
Loud Loop Press 

A hypnotic and psychedelic ride.
Ride the Tempo

Everything about Stephen Paul Smoker is interesting; from his name to his approach in life and certainly his music.  Classified as a creator of Psychedelic Indie Pop, Smoker drips the essence of authenticity – which is always refreshing...The decision to walk the path toward music resulted in dreamy songs with bittersweet undertones and throw-backs to trippy sounds of the 1970’s....there’s an odd juxtaposition in Smoker’s music where the virtues of peace collide with darker emotions.
Broke Hipster 

The decision to walk the path toward music resulted in dreamy songs with bittersweet undertones and throw-backs to trippy sounds of the 1970’s on his albumViolent Sun / Violent Fun.  There’s an odd juxtaposition in Smoker’s music where the virtues of peace collide with darker emotions.
Star Beat Music

Inspired by ‘60s psychedelia and transposed through his own homemade indie-pop, Stephen Paul Smoker’s songs jangle, swirl, and feel like they were created in the middle of the sun.
Chicago Innerview

  

More on Stephen Paul Smoker

A Lancaster, PA native, musician Stephen Paul Smoker began his career at an early age, honing his craft as a touring musician and hired gun for bands like MewithoutYou and the Mint.  Smoker relocated to Chicago to join and perform with childhood friend Grace Kulp and continued to tour with other acts such as the Loto Ball Show.

Inspired by the bright sun light in his Pilsen attic which doubled as his bedroom, Smoker created what would eventually become his debut EP, Violent Sun / Violent Fun, a no-frills, psychedelic DIY take on indie pop.

After releasing Violent Sun / Violent Fun, Stephen formed band and began to perform his music live. Teaming up with local Pilsen musicians Michael Kostal, Evan DePue, Bethany Smoker, Paul Roots, as well as Gerald Baily (Trumpeter/Black Bear Combo) and Emma Hospelhorn (Flute/Hollows) the group began performing live in late 2010, and spent 2011 preparing for their first full length release, RIPE FRUIT, available on the first day of spring via Kilo Records.

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