Best of DJ Ötzi (Platin Edition)

Albenrezension

Best of DJ Ötzi compiles all of the Austrian schlager superstar's biggest hits to date, beginning with "Ein Stern (Der Deinen Namen Trägt)," far and away the most popular song of 2007 throughout the German-language world. While the music of DJ Ötzi — drawing from schlager as well as volksmusik and oldies pop — isn't easily categorized, there is one formal characteristic common to all of his songs: energetic club/dance beats that, though awfully generic, are guaranteed party starters. Practically every one of the 18 songs on Best of DJ Ötzi is driven by these club/dance beats — from DJ Ötzi's breakthrough hit, "Anton aus Tirol" (2000), to "Ein Stern (Der Deinen Namen Trägt)" — and so this compilation functions as a party mix as well as a career retrospective. As for the latter function, Best of DJ Ötzi is a much better career retrospective than its predecessor, Greatest Partyhits (2003), which was released around the time DJ Ötzi's initial burst of popularity (marked by the popularity of "Anton aus Tirol" and "Hey Baby" in 2000) was on the wane. Best of DJ Ötzi includes those early breakthrough hits plus mid-period singles (e.g., "Live Is Life," "Burger Dance," "Ich War Immer der Clown") and more recent ones from the comeback album Sternstunden (2007) ("7 Sünden," "Ein Stern"). Because DJ Ötzi's career to date is clearly defined by hit singles rather than full-length albums, Best of DJ Ötzi is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in his music. Likewise, anyone looking for a single-disc collection of DJ Ötzi best should look no further. This an album that truly fulfills its billing. [A bonus CD version was also released.]