If I were one of the mindless sheep that turn to the nightly news for my facts, I might've heard mention of Germany's "KMFDM" in lieu of recent tragedies involving a couple of the loose screws in our youth population. "Why?!" People screamed. "What could be the cause of such unthinkable deviancy?" And some genius said, "Why it must be some techno band from Germany!" And the funny thing is, the media bought that answer and relayed it to the homes of America. Well, it was one of a few attempts at finger pointing to avoid the plain fact - those kids were nuts. Feeble minded, impressionable misguided lunatics. It happens. But what furthers the tragedy is when people try to attach their own agendas about music, video games or whatever pathetic catalyst the press decided to label as "the cause" as some kind of rationale for why those kids did what they did. The Backstreet Boys had about as much to do with Littleton as "KMFDM." I guess the connection was those two "gunmen" were into the Nazi trip, and "KMFDM" are from Germany, so I guess it makes sense, huh? Enough with the nonsense and on to the review.

"Adios" is proclaimed to be the final "KMFDM" album (seems they were so riddled from guilt at causing all this mayhem in the US that they decided to quit). But seriously, the press kit says "R.I.P., KMFDM." This marks the 10th album from these pioneers of all that is labeled "Electronica," at least in the mainstream sense. Compared to past releases, "Adios" is decidedly smooth. It holds a tighter grip on the club beat, and even, dare I say new wave, in the New Order-ish "Today," and pays less attention to the pile-driving distortion of the metal guitars of past efforts. Even the keyboard elements are mostly rounded and liquid sounding and the structures stretch out for longer loops.

The disk starts out with a heart-pumping tempo with the title track proclaiming (in classic "KMFDM" rhyme scheme) "It's been too many times/ I've stuck out my neck (FOR YOU!)/ It's been too many times/ I've spoken my mind (FOR YOU!)/ It's been too many times/ That I've caught all the flack (FOR YOU!)/ Pathetic crap/ Is all I can find (IN YOU!)." The mood is then pulled back a bit with the (almost) Jamaican rhythm of the 2nd track, "Sycophant," which builds into the noisier middle, and finds the again "KMFDM" familiar female element soaring above beats.

"Witness" encompasses the spoken female approach laced within a thickly danceable club beat that flows lengthy and would please the strobe light loving x-set. "Full Worm Garden" uses this wicked electronic dragging warped sound that reminds me of Lords of Acid in it's coarseness, and features guest vocalist Ogre (Skinny Puppy) and Bill Rieflin (Revolting Cocks) helping out with the programming. It proves to be one of the more endearing tracks.

"Adios" leaves "KMFDM" off with a smoother tip, and embraces a bit more of the pure electronic ethic, bringing the band back full circle from their beginnings. Fans are left with a lengthy and accomplished catalog to inspire more of the American nightmare. To quote from track #3, entitled "D.I.Y," "From the gutter/ To the top/ KMFDM will never stop." Not terribly deep, but the truth never needs to be.