Streets of Fire [Import]

Place Vendome | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 4, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Frontiers Records
• ASIN: B001NY71C2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,425 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Streets of Fire

2. My Guardian Angel

3. Completely Breathless

4. Follow Me

5. Set Me Free

6. Believer

7. Valerie (The Truth Is in Your Eyes)

8. A Scene in Replay

9. Changes

10. Surrender Your Soul

11. Dancer

12. I'd Die for You

Editorial Reviews

Streets Of Fire by Place Vendome

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very strong comeback with a huge AOR sound, February 24, 2009

By 

John (Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Streets of Fire (Audio CD)

The Place Vendome band was put together by Frontiers Records in 2005 and comprised of Dennis Ward (bass), Uwe Reitenauer (guitars), Kosta Zafiriou (drums) from Pink Cream 69, Gunter Werno (keyboards) from Vandenplas and Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Avantasia, etc) on vocals. Their self-titled debut album was a brilliant melodic rock / AOR release. When the follow up was confirmed in 2008 expectations were high.

While the musicians have remained the same; this time around the songs are provided by different songwriters. Torsti Spoof (Leverage), Ronny Milianowicz (Saint Deamon), Magnus Karlsson (Bob Catley, Starbreaker) and Robert Sall (Work of Art) make up the songwriting team.

By looking at the list of people involved with this album you would expect a quality release oozing with variety...well this is exactly what you get! "Streets Of Fire" is an outstanding AOR offering, filled with quality songs and impressive musicianship. If compared to the first album this sophomore effort is even more AOR, as the guitars are a little softer and the keyboards are slightly more evident than before. Nevertheless you get a good dosage of hard rock riffs and passages, Reitenauer's solos are mind-blowing, all the rhythm sections are tight and the blending of keyboards with guitars and vocals creates wonders.

As expected the songwriting offers great variety which is definitely one of the album's strong points. Torsti Spoof offers catchy hard rock influenced tracks, Ronny Milianowicz provides beautiful slow and mid-tempo AOR songs, Robert Sall brings an uplifting melodic soft-rock feel in his numbers while Magnus Karlsson and Dennis Ward do their usual best in their accustomed melodic rock setting.

Even though the music on the album is excellent and the songs are strong; Michael Kiske steals the spotlight once again. This man's voice sounds better on every new release! His vocals are multidimensional, sounding great in all the different musical settings of the album, plus stronger and more emotional than before. Kiske seems more at home on 'Streets Of Fire' (he even offers a couple of his famous screams in some of the songs) and proves that he is just perfect for the AOR genre.

The strongest songs on offer are summerized below:

"Streets Of Fire" is an amazing melodic hard rock track, with an unforgettable chorus, tempo changes, soaring vocals and an incredible guitar solo. "Set Me Free" (Casting Crowns cover) is an atmospheric and slow melodic rocker, whose main drives are its symphonic elements and Kiske's moody and deep vocals. "Believer" and "Dancer" both fall under the melodic rock category and feature strong guitar riffs, first-rate solos, catchy keyboard melodies and mainly high vocals. "Believer" is a little happier and up-tempo, while "Dancer" is heavier, darker in mood and blessed with one of the album's best choruses. "My Guardian Angel" is a melodic rock ballad written by Magnus Karlsson. It begins with a piano intro, takes off with melodic guitar leads, slows down for the melancholic verses and explodes during the chorus and the guitar solo. "A Scene In Replay" is a beautiful mid-tempo AOR track. It includes one more memorable chorus, mesmerizing vocals (especially towards the end where Kiske goes for his higher range) and overflows with emotion.

The remaining tracks are quality offerings aswell. The ballad "Completely Breathless" and the AOR flavored "Changes" are other highlights, while the multi structured symphonic ballad "I'd Die For You" and the energetic "Follow Me" can't be faulted either. The only song that sounds like filler or doesn't really fit here is "Valerie".

In conclusion Streets Of Fire is a very strong melodic rock / AOR album with top-rate musicianship, accessible songs and enough hooks for everyone. When compared to the debut, the new release sounds superior and also flows better as a whole. The only elements I personally miss are some heavier ideas featured on previous songs such as 'Cross The Line' and 'Sign Of The Times'...

If you enjoyed the self titled album buy this now! If you are into melodic rock or AOR, definitely give this band a listen. Fans of Journey, Foreigner and Toto will probably love this too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent follow-up!, May 22, 2009

By 

Michael (Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Streets of Fire (Audio CD)

Another superb slice of melodic rock from what has to be one of the best groups ever. Intense tunes, excellent musicianship, perfect production, and powerful vocals all adds up to a great album worthy of purchase for any fan of this style of music. This CD has to be in the top 5 albums of the year regardless of what else is released by any other bands. Song highlights include the rocking second track "My Guardian Angel", the melodic bliss of "Valerie", and the intense arrangement of closing mega power-ballad "I'd Die For You". It's a great album from start to end and certainly lends itself to repeat listening. Enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Kiske + "Pink Cream 69"= "Place Vendome"-amazing melodic hard rock, December 10, 2011

By 

Nikiforos V. Skoumas (Athens Greece, Cambridge UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Streets of Fire (Audio CD)

"Streets of Fire" is the second studio album by AOR/melodic hard rock project "Place Vendome", originally released in 2009. "Place Vendome" is highly acclaimed singer Michael Kiske backed by "Pink Cream 69" members Dennis Ward (b), Kostas Zafiriou (d), Uwe Reitenauer (g) and Gunter Werno (k). Equally significant is the line up of songwriters contributing to "Streets of fire" including Magnus Karlsson, Robert Sall, Torsti Spoof and Peikka Heino amongst others.

Music wise the album is a mixture of bombastic melodic hard rock and AOR; the guitars are tremendous, the rhythm section up-front, the keyboards spot-on and of course Kiske proves once again on top form as the `AOR singer' role suits him perfectly. The album opens on the devastating "Streets of Fire" followed by the subtle melodic "My guardian angel", from there onwards the album features such highlights as "Follow me", "Valerie", the mid tempo master-class of "A scene in replay", and "Changes".

It is true that the album switches between AOR and melodic hard rock, a result of the contributions of multiple songwriters thought the high standards of performance in combination with Denis Ward's flawless production even the edges to a certain extent making an almost cohesive album out of "Streets of fire". Indeed a must have for fans of the genre and the artists involved.