Named and Shamed CD

The Flaming Stars serve up "Named and Shamed," a fascinating collision of punk's bite and pop's glam that feels like a parade of contradictions. Tracks like "She's Gone" and "Stranger on the Fifth Floor" drip with sardonic wit, glancing at life's melodrama while tipping their hats to absurdity lurking beneath the surface. Rather than let you coast on catchy hooks, this album forces an awkward, yet compelling, confrontation with what lies under all those sharp guitar riffs.