Farewell, Starlite!

Like his collaborators Kanye West and Bon Iver, Oakland’s Francis Farewell Starlite has little regard for traditional song structures and much love for Auto-Tune. Pulsing gently with synths, finger clicks, and keening vocals, *Farewell, Starlite!*’s alt-R&B takes enough left turns to almost hark back to The Doobie Brothers’ soft-rocking soul—albeit a spartan, deconstructed version. “Friends” is the gorgeously shimmering centerpiece, but “Thank You” clears away the synthetic effects to underline Starlite’s sharp melodicism.

After big-name co-signs for the smooth, self-made producer and vocalist Francis Farewell Starlite, his latest album doesn't quite live up to expectations.

After big-name co-signs for the smooth, self-made producer and vocalist Francis Farewell Starlite, his latest album doesn't quite live up to expectations.