The Compass Project

The Compass Project is the tenth studio album by Canadian country artist Brett Kissel. It is a four-part box set of albums released in 2023.^[1] The first part, South Album was released on January 27, 2023, via Big Star Recordings and ONErpm.^[2] The second part, East Album was released on April 28, 2023.^[3] The third part, West Album was released on November 3, 2023.^[4] The fourth part, North Album was released on December 1, 2023.^[5]

The Compass Project
Cover for the South Album
Studio album by Brett Kissel
Released	January 27, 2023 (South Album) April 28, 2023 (East Album) November 3, 2023 (West Album) December 1, 2023 (North Album)
Genre	Country
Length	35:35 (South Album) 35:34 (East Album) 40:25 (West Album) 58:16 (North Album)
Label	Big Star ONErpm
Producer	Spencer Cheyne Brett Kissel Karen Kosowski Justin Kudding Bart McKay Thomas Salter
Brett Kissel chronology
What Is Life? (2021) The Compass Project (2023)
Singles from The Compass Project
"Ain't the Same" Released: April 22, 2022 "Watch It" Released: October 4, 2022 "Never Have I Ever" Released: March 8, 2023

Background

After holding desires to record a western-inspired album, an acoustic album, and a live album, Kissel made the decision to record all of these, along with a standard album in one project.^[6] The "North Album" is a live album containing live versions of Kissel's previous hits. The "East Album" is an acoustic album that Kissel intends to showcase his singer-songwriter side. The "South Album" is inspired by Nashville and the South, with Kissel noting how its songs are meant to target radio airplay. The "West Album" is intended to be a country and western album, inspired by the time Kissel has spent on his cattle ranch.^[7][6] Kissel views each album as a "specific direction" of his "internal compass", which provides fans with a "a 365-degree view" of his life and music, while they also "speak to all of the important sides" of his artistry.^[6][8][9] The project totals forty songs overall.^[7]

Kissel released promotional singles from each album ahead of their release.^[10] Prior to releasing the "South Album", Kissel released the tracks "Ain't the Same", "Our Home", "Watch It", and "Never Have I Ever".^[11] He released the tracks "Spend a Little Time With You" and "Nowhere" ahead of the "East Album".^[12][13][14] In August 2023, he released "Missin You in San Antone" from the West Album.^[15] He followed that up in October 2023, with the song "Deer Blind".^[4]

Kissel stated that "Watch It" is his favourite song on the album as it "shares advice and wisdom for every parent to relate to".^[6] On the "East" and "West" albums, Kissel is the sole writer on several of the songs, and remarked that he was "nervous" to see how his fans and the music industry reacted to them.^[6] He co-wrote the track "Legacy" on the "West Album" with his uncle, which was inspired by the estate fight Kissel had to save his grandfather's ranch in Alberta.^[16]

Critical reception

Chad Huculak of the Edmonton Journal favourably reviewed "South Album", describing it as "precision-polished, with tracks expertly crafted to land on radio stations and playlists". He added that while there "isn't much experimentation or pushing of musical boundaries" on the album, it is nonetheless "some of the best music [Kissel has] produced in his career".^[17] Alan Cackett of NEO Music stated that the "South Album" is "certainly full of singalong songs that swim around and around your head hours after you’ve stopped listening," but framed the album as "passable," adding that it needed more songs like "Line in the Sand" to become an "essential listen".^[18] Andrew Ingram of Front Porch Music described the "South Album" as a "fantastic introduction" to the entire project, stating that it is "a showcase of Kissel’s songwriting ability and the authentic country sound that his fans have come to love".^[19]

James Daykin of Entertainment Focus referred to the "East Album" as "a masterclass of meaning and melody," adding that "harmonies are used sparingly but effectively and there’s enough drama and passion to keep you hitting repeat over and over again."^[20] An uncredited review from All Country News stated that the "East Album" is "proof that care and creativity go along way," naming "Sanctuary" and "Ten Years from Now" as standout tracks.^[21]

Daykin described the "West Album" as "a must-listen for country music enthusiasts, delivering a genuine and immersive experience from start to finish".^[22] Huculak favourably reviewed the "West Album", calling it a "straight-forward, traditional country record". He added that the album "hews close to that classic, blue-collar country music that sounds heavenly coming from an AM radio station.^[23]

Track listings

The Compass Project – South Album

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Never Have I Ever"	Brett Kissel Thomas Salter Elizabeth Lowell Boland Ron Lopata	3:04
2.	"Watch It"	Matt Rogers Blake Bollinger	3:26
3.	"Ain't the Same" (with 98 Degrees)	Kissel Karen Kosowski Tim Nichols	3:08
4.	"That's Just You"	Kissel Dave Thomson	2:56
5.	"Starts and Ends"	Kissel Emily Doty Kosowki	2:33
6.	"All I Ever Wanted"	Jacob Durrett Justin Wilson Weston Davis Mitchell Tenpenny Dallas Wilson	3:13
7.	"First Place"	Kissel Jason Nix Jason Gantt	2:40
8.	"Standing in the Dark"	Steve Fox Mark Smith Sean Smith	3:02
9.	"Our Home"	Kissel	3:37
10.	"Cadillac Ranch"	Bruce Springsteen	3:42
11.	"Line in the Sand"	Kissel	4:10
Total length:			35:35

The Compass Project – East Album^[24]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Spend a Little Time With You"	Kyle Jacobs James House	3:26
2.	"Drive"	Kissel	4:49
3.	"Nowhere"	Jacobs Ken Johnson	3:10
4.	"When I Get on a Memory"	Kissel Matt Rogers	3:09
5.	"Coastline"	Ryan Paul Henderson Matthew Albert Carins	4:02
6.	"Port Colborne"	Fox	3:33
7.	"Ten Years From Now"	Kissel	2:32
8.	"Made It"	Kissel Emma-Lee Doty Karen Kosowski	3:24
9.	"Meet Me in Vegas"	Jacobs Emily West	4:08
10.	"Sanctuary" (featuring Cecilia Kissel)	Kissel Cecilia Kissel	3:17
Total length:			35:30

The Compass Project – West Album^[25]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Missin' You in San Antone"	Kissel Roger Springer	3:13
2.	"Oil and Cattle" (featuring George Canyon, Don Amero, and Brad Johner)	Kissel	3:42
3.	"Legacy"	Kissel Derrick Germain	4:23
4.	"Deer Blind"	Kissel Mike Fisher	3:26
5.	"Wichita Lineman"	Jimmy Webb	3:15
6.	"The Crib Song"	Kissel Brenden Powers	3:18
7.	"Strait Country"	Kissel	3:52
8.	"Black Eyed Susans"	Kissel Fox	4:20
9.	"Behind Closed Doors"	Kenny O'Dell	2:55
10.	"Queen on the River"	Kissel Germain	3:22
11.	"Here's Hoping There'll (Always Be a Cowboy)"	George Fox	4:35
Total length:			40:25

The Compass Project – North Album (Live)^[26]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"We Were That Song" (Live)	Barry Dean Melissa Peirce Jonathan Singleton	3:57
2.	"A Few Good Stories" (Live)	Ben Hayslip Chris Stevens Rhett Akins	4:46
3.	"3-2-1" (Live)	Kissel Nichols Marv Green	4:23
4.	"Make a Life, Not a Living" (Live)	Cary Barlowe Brandon Day Steven Lee Olsen	4:32
5.	"Drink About Me" (Live)	Rogers Ben Stennis	6:20
6.	"Tough People Do" (Live)	Kissel Hayslip Ted Hewitt	4:52
7.	"I Didn't Fall in Love with Your Hair" (Live)	Jacobs Rachel Bradshaw Billy Montana	4:04
8.	"Cecilia" (Live)	Kissel Seth Mosley Brad Rempel	3:20
9.	"Airwaves" (Live)	Singleton Zach Crowell Matt Jenkins	3:37
10.	"Started With a Song" (Live)	Kissel Craig Wiseman	4:17
11.	"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (Live)	John Martin Sommers	4:16
12.	"Anthem" (Live)	Doty Kosowski Phil Barton	4:24
13.	"She Drives Me Crazy" (Live)	Kissel Doty Kosowski	4:22
Total length:			56:39

Charts

Singles

Chart performance for singles from The Compass Project

Year	Single	Peak chart positions
		CAN Country ^[27]	CAN Digital ^[28]
2022	"Ain't the Same"	33	31
	"Watch It"	11	—
2023	"Never Have I Ever"	22	—
"—" denotes a single that did not chart

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Nominated Work	Result	Ref.
2024	Juno Awards	Country Album of the Year	The Compass Project - South Album	Nominated	^[29]

Release history

Release formats for The Compass Project – South Album

Country	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Canada	January 27, 2023	Digital download	Big Star Recordings	^[30]
		Streaming
Various		Digital download	Brett Kissel	^[31]
		Streaming

References

1. Lee, Jason (January 31, 2023). "Brett Kissel: The Compass Project". CJWW Radio. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
2. . AllAccess. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
3. "BRETT KISSEL PLANS TO DROP SECOND INSTALLMENT OF "THE COMPASS PROJECT" "EAST ALBUM" ON APRIL 28, 2023". Music City Memo. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
4. Dagg, Nanci (October 23, 2023). "BRETT KISSEL SHARES NEW SINGLE, "DEER BLIND"". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
5. "The Compass Project – North Album (Live) by Brett Kissel". Apple Music. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
6. Janes, Lesley (January 31, 2023). "Brett Kissel Talks 'The Compass Project'". The Nash News. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
7. Harris, Preshias (October 31, 2022). "Brett Kissel covers four points of the compass with new project". Country Music News International. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
8. Roden, Ally (January 25, 2023). "Brett Kissel Readies First Part Of Four-Part Album, 'The Compass Project'". Music Mayhem Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
9. McPherson, David (March 23, 2023). "BRETT KISSEL'S CRISIS IGNITES NEW PASSION FOR SONGWRITING". Words & Music. SOCAN Magazine. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
10. Hollabaugh, Lorie (January 10, 2023). "Brett Kissel To Release Four-Part 'The Compass Project'". Music Row Magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
11. Dagg, Nanci (January 12, 2023). "Brett Kissel rings in 2023 with his biggest endeavor yet, The Compass Project, and the release of his latest single "Never Have I Ever"". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
12. "BRETT KISSEL PLANS TO DROP SECOND INSTALLMENT OF "THE COMPASS PROJECT" "EAST ALBUM" ON APRIL 28, 2023". Music City Memo. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
13. Dagg, Nanci (March 28, 2023). "Brett Kissel shares new single, "Spend A Little Time With You"". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
14. "Nowhere – Brett Kissel". Spotify. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
15. "Missin You in San Antone – Brett Kissel". Spotify. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
16. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: BRETT KISSEL DISCUSSES 'SOUTH ALBUM' PROJECT". Music and Tour News. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
17. Huculak, Chad (January 23, 2023). "Fresh Tracks: Brett Kissel finds home, and new directions with The Compass Project". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
18. Cackett, Alan (January 2023). "Brett Kissel – The Compass Project: South Album". NEO Music. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
19. Ingram, Andrew (February 8, 2023). "Brett Kissel's "South Album": A Review of the Compass Project's First Journey". Front Porch Music. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
20. Daykin, James (April 28, 2023). "Brett Kissel – 'Compass Project: East' review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
21. "Brett Kissel Gives Fans A Taste Of A More Personal Side In His New "East Album"". All Country News. April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
22. Daykin, James (November 3, 2023). "Brett Kissel – 'The Compass Project: West' album review". Entertainment Focus.
23. Huculak, Chad (November 8, 2023). "FRESH TRACKS: Brett Kissel pays tribute to classic country on West Album". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
24. "The Compass Project - East Album by Brett Kissel". Apple Music (Canada). Big Star Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
25. "The Compass Project - West Album by Brett Kissel". Apple Music (Canada). Big Star Recordings. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
26. "The Compass Project - West Album by Brett Kissel". Apple Music (Canada). Big Star Recordings. December 1, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
27. "Brett Kissel Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
28. "Brett Kissel Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
29. "Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees". CBC Music, February 6, 2024.
30. "The Compass Project – South Album by Brett Kissel". Apple Music. January 27, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
31. "The Compass Project – South Album, Album by Brett Kissel". Spotify. January 27, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.