The Cripples / Aaiiee/ Toy Train / Eternal 13 - Split 7"

This 4-way split 7" was came out in the Spring of 1999, with a record release show occurring in May at The Velvet Elvis. Toy Train, which featured a pre A-frames/The Intelligence Lars Finberg, start things off with a burst of hyperactive shouty organ-driven hybrid of both punk and hip hop. Next up is Eternal 13 with a cut of almost radio friendly skate-rock. Next up are The Cripples with a blast of their trademarked lo-fi/high energy synth punk, which contains backing vocals that make the song sound an awful lot like the mutant offspring of a Cripples/Blood Brothers sexual encounter. Finishing up the disc are Aaiiee with a song that sounds awful lot like some of the mid to late 70's New York CBGB's rock bands (eg. The Shirts).

4-way Split 7"

The Cripples - So Tired 7"

"Seattle synth-punk revivalists The Cripples formed in 1994. The band's formula began with a standard electric bass and drums that were fronted by two singing synth players. Over the years they incorporated guitars at times and a whole variety of mobile, hacked, modified, and even toy plastic keyboards. Early punk bands that used synthesizers like The Screamers were a major influence on The Cripples. The band pre-dated the more recent wave synth bands like The Epoxies and certainly has never been as polished or commercial as their contemporaries, there is a unique sound and raw edge to most Cripples songs, which I'd credit to both the vocal style and the the hacked up and homemade keyboards." (This description is stolen from an article by Dan over at the 10 Things Zine Blog)

So Tired 7" (in wav format with sleeve scans)