Johnette Napolitano

After more than 25 years in the music business, Johnette Napolitano has made her masterpiece. From the haunting synth programming on “Amazing” to the poignant ballad “The Scientist” to her deep ‘n’ doomy cover of Lou Reed’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” Scarred is a sonic portrait of an artist who has stripped away the clamorous sounds of stardom so she can hear herself think. The result is a set of poignant and diverse songs, carried by that voice, which sounds stronger than ever — especially in the wails of the tortured title track and the song “Just Like Time,” where she croons, “And for a minute there, I was nothing wrong/Can we please rewind because I loved that song/And when the moon rises tonight it will take my breath/It’s a lot like death.”