Customer Reviews

Adios

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Adios, supposedly KMFDM's last album until they re-formed and released Attak, is hardly the bands strongest effort or best album as far as song structure goes, but it certainly stands on its own and is a great release, however distant from their old sound it may be. For one, there is hardly a live instrument to be heard on the album with the exception of a very few distorted guitar parts. The rest is made up of electronic beats, synthesizers and samples. While industrial music is supposed to be machine driven more than anything, I think KMFDM did their best when they let the guitars do a fair share of the talking. For evidence of just how creative of guitarists the crazy Germans are look on the albums Symbols and Angst, where riff-driven industrial rock prevails more than electronic techno pop. However, KMFDM don't necessarily do the electronic thing badly, as they come up with some wonderful synth lines that a lot of programmers are sure to envy. The techno influence is very obvious and its good to see that KMFDM really had a go at it during their career. I say that simply because KMFDM has brought in the influence of so many musical genres that trying pure, programmed techno rock seemed bound to happen eventually.

Thankfully, there are no bad songs on here as some might argue are scattered here and there across other KMFDM albums. The only ones which are slightly below the rest are "Witness", which is cool experimentally but suffers due to the inclusion of Nina Hagen's vocals. "Full Worm Garden" is also not as good as the other tracks but Ogre's low, distorted vocals certainly make it listenable. One of the best points of listening to Adios is that Tim Skold did the vocals for a good portion of the album; a fact which may irritate some fans but pleases me to no extent after hearing Skold's awesome voice on "Anarchy" on the Symbols record. The female vocals prevelant throughout the disc give the feel of the music a very house or trance-like vibe. As I said before, it's pretty obvious that the band members were listening to a lot of house, big beat, and trance at the time this was being written.

This may not be their best album, but it certainly is worth picking up. It does not lack creativity, is full of hooks and wonderful synths and sound effects and is an important step in the bands career. Start out with Angst or Symbols or maybe Nihil and then grab this. Standouts: "Adios", "Sycophant", "Today", "Bereit" (reminds me of "Lust"), and "R.U. Ok?"

ADIOS was a wonderful last album for a pioneering band with an illustrious history. KMFDM was renowned for a new sound every album, but adios is amazingly unique. There is a much heavier emphasis on electronics that gives the music a smooth, quiet, and groovy feel. The song Sycophant is an example of the fruition of their flirtations with reggae, although its lyrics could have been more well-thought out. Skold worked very hard to ruin this album, but ogre stepped in with 'thats all' and 'full worm garden' to save the day. With cds like this, it breaks my heart that kmfdm broke up.

Oh well, that's life. Could be worse. Kmfdm could have reformed without Esch and Schulz, as a conventional american metal band, and Skold could use kmfdm as a stepping stone to get into a pop group. Thank god that didn't happen.

I see that alot of people don't like this album very much and i can't understand why. I think that this is their best. I think the electronics especially stand out more on this album than any other, and this album is one of the most diverse as well. You get everything from the frentic beginings of the song 'adios', to the AWESOME 'full worm garden' (i think this is the best KMFDM song as well as the best song i've ever heard ogre sing) - to the cool electronica of 'witness'. There are also a few "classic" sounding KMFDM songs like 'd.i.y.' and 'bereit.'
This cd is not as metal sounding as most of their others, but it is definately worth a listen if you want something a little more different.
I would rate this CD right up there with NIHIL and ANGST as my favorites (though it sounds very different to those two).

I'll admit 'Rubicon' to the pure filler pile, and I'll recognize 'Witness' as too weirdo euro dance club for many, but the rest collects some of the greatest KMFDM of all time. It may not exclusively keep your blood in the mosh pits, or your cool on the dance floor, but it will tempt speeding tickets and dramatic hand gestures.

Don't let the guitar-nuts intimidate, and don't let the tech-fairies castrate; this is everything you hate about popular music given back with a beating.

Adios Marks the real goodbye from KMFDM. After they went on to do MDFMK which was decent and then they came back. Attak, was really weak because it was all Sascha and Skold and though I like them both, the absence of Gunter Schulz and En Esch really made this album absent in itself. WWIII though it is a better and pretty decent album, KMFDM is still a little less present.
Adios gives us the remnants of what KMFDM fans know as KMFDM with Skold present but not taking over completely (Though I like Skold, But we need a break) We saw Nina Hagen lend her voice in "Witness" which is amazing, along with Ogre from Skinny Puppy in "That's All" and "Full Worm Garden" great tracks
A little bit of Pig and Schulz's insane guitar riffs and you are all set. Even though En Esch was very minimal in the recording, infact I barely remember him... Currently Working on "FUBAR", we'll see if KMFDM will impress again, They have it still, they are just not using their talents as of late, C'mon Sascha, you're great man, but get over yourself and get Schulz and Esch back... Bring back KMFDM... What would Skinny Puppy be without Cevin Key? what would Ohgr be without Ogre? What would Foetus be without Thirlwell? c'mon man.. Bring us back KMFDM....

Adios is without a doubt the coolest electronic/industrial album of the '90s. Rock music lost its edge a long time ago, but industrial music still has hope-- this album is proof.

Adios - 9/10
Sycophant - 9/10 [really good drums]
DIY - 9/10
Today - 9/10
Witness - 7/10 [weakest song on the album]
RU OK? - 8/10
That's All - 10/10
Full Worm Garden - 10/10 [one of the best KMFDM songs ever]
Rubicon - 9/10

Bereit - 8/10

After the release of Adios in 1999, KMFDM disbanded. Sascha and Tim went on to establish MDFMK, while En and Gunter started Slick Idiot. But now, two years later, KMFDM (minus En and Gunter) is back and they're working on a new album. Whether the new KMFDM will be any good... who knows.

This is a great album from Sascha K and Co. I've been a fan of KMFDM since the "Nihil" era and have since bought all the abums and singles that are still in print; and like the rest of the reviews say, this is an appropriate way to leave (only to come back as MDFMK, and re-form KMFDM shortly there-after) NEwho...no doubt about it, this is a solid collection of tunes =O) **off topic** although, I don't understand why people are dragging down MDFMK for all that it is worth...even the slightest KMFDM fan knows that 'the sound' has evolved through their 15 some odd years in existance....why does it appear to surprise everyone that MDFMK is not the same sound as KMFDM? **back on track** ugh, I had to vent...Adios, Sychophant, DIY, Today, R.U. Ok? That's All, Full Worm Garden, and Bereit I love....that's right!, all but 2 tracks...not that they're bad tracks, they're just not my highlights.

I'm also suggesting that you pick up copies of: Slick ..., Schwein, and ohGr...and of course, when it is finally released, the new KMFDM album.

KMFDM has been my favorite band since "Money"; but after hearing this album (my friend bought it before I did), I almost had to force myself to get it. "Adios" has been out a while, but since KMFDM are getting back together and recording another album, I had to review this one since I feel so strongly about it.

First of all, most of the songs were really weak; "Bereit" was about the only good one here. Second, although Tim Skold was ok on the last album ("Anarchy"), he practically took over this album; not a good thing at all. His vocal style is way too [weak] for industrial music....(check out his solo stuff and the MDFMK album and you will see what I mean....it's no wonder MDFMK didn't last). I can only hope the new KMFDM will live up to it's great past....especially now that En Esch will not be a part of it. (another bad sign)...

It seemed that Adios was going to be the last KMFDM album, but now ATTAK is about to be released, so the prophetic title of Adios has failed. Now, to comment on the album.
I admit I'm not exactly a KMFDM fan; My fav bands are FLA, Skinny Puppy, NIN, but I think KMFDM are very important in the development of industrial music.
However, the more guitarristic cds by KMFDM are not my cup of tea; not that I hate guitars, not at all. But i prefer them not to beon control of the songs, that's why I don't like cds like Xtort. So since all have our own preferences, my favourite KMFDM album is ADIOS.
ADIOS presents KMFDM at their most electronic effort; guitars are present of course, but always controlled by the synthesisers and electronic sounds; the beats used are electronic too. ADIOS has no bad song at all, unlike other KMFDM cds, in my opinion. They're quite varied: we have heavy industrial songs like 'Adios' or 'DIY', which have hard beats, heavy electronics and guitars, agressive voice; we have almost techno-pop hymns, such as the delightful 'Today' (it's a gem of new techno-pop: distorted voice, amazing chorus with female voices...); then we have 'That's all', a mixture of a techno-pop song and a rock song, especially in its catchy chorus: it sticks into your head for a long time. This song displays the always interesting Ogre's voice, as in 'Full worm garden', which is a bit more agressive, similar in vein to the songs on Skinny Puppy's The process. 'Rubicon' contains guitars, and it's a short and brilliant techno-rock song. 'Witness' displays Nina Hagen's voice, and it's about aliens; quite long, very electronic. 'Sycophant' is also one of the most interesting tracks on AFIOS, with an amazing percussive work, good voice, no chorus. 'Bereit' is the only song sung in German, maybe less catchy than the others but good though.
Almost all the songs are sung by Tim Skold. I know many fans don't like this, but i prefer it, since Skold gives KMFDM a more melodic side which fits perfectly in this album.

Though there are some truly killer tunes on this album (WITNESS and FULL WORM GARDEN being the best) most of it feels like unfinished music released to fulfill a contract obligation. Which I believe it is. This was the last album they did for WAX TRAX and easily their weakest work to date.

But then coming on the heels of the 1997 expletive album (which was easily one of the best industrial dance records ever!) most anything will sound dissapointing. The next album as MDFMK is much better. So I beleive they pushed this out just to get out of WAX TRAX.