Patrick Costello isn’t here to make you comfortable. Leading The KnabokovCollective, this multi-instrumentalist has spent his career bouncing between genres like a musical nomad: rock, jazz, Latin, reggae, you name it. While he’s perfectly capable of laying down instrumental grooves that’ll get your head nodding, it’s his political material that hits hardest. The guy sings, writes, composes, and drums simultaneously, which is either impressive multitasking or a severe case of not trusting anyone else to get it right.
“Six strings scream what silence tried to bury.”
“Baltimore City/Let the Brothers Breathe” is when justified fury meets face-melting guitar riffs. This track is a full-throated scream about police brutality against Black Americans, specifically naming Freddie Grey, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown. Costello could’ve made this a somber ballad, but he ended up creating something even better while simultaneously punching you in the gut with its message. That’s a tricky balance, and he nails it.
The production is gloriously messy in the best way, blues-rock vocals crash into R&B background singers and drums pound like they’re trying to break through your speakers. If you’re looking for easy-listening background music, keep scrolling. But if you want rock that actually matters, Costello’s your guy.
Give “Baltimore City/Let the Brothers Breathe” a spin.
Muse Chronicle 
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