Big Star Recordings/Onerpm

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Canadian Brett Kissel is something of a country superstar in his own country, but so far, despite continuous persistence, he’s failed to crack the more lucrative American country scene. Since the beginning of his career in 2012, the multi-platinum artist has won 22 CCMA awards and three JUNO awards (equivalent to the American Grammy). This year he is launching The Compass Project, an ambitious 4-album set, with each release showcasing a different facet of the singer’s personality and sound. The just-released SOUTH ALBUM is described as ‘classic Brett’ full of songs that his fans can singalong to. This will be followed in the spring by EAST ALBUM, an acoustic, stripped-back set; WEST ALBUM in the summer will feature his passion for country-western music; and finally, in the winter, NORTH ALBUM, which will contain many of his biggest hits performed live. 

The SOUTH ALBUM reflects the confidence that comes with the recognition he’s gained so far as he steers a steady course through mainstream country. The Canadian’s glorious alto provides instant gratification throughout the album’s general sense of celebration. Further honing his articulate, hook-laden country-pop sound, this set is certainly full of singalong songs that swim around and around your head hours after you’ve stopped listening. Growing up on a cattle farm/ranch in Alberta, the 32-year-old certainly has the necessary credentials for a bona fide country singer, unlike too many of the current Nashville stars. Happily married with three young children, the songs (seven of which he wrote or co-wrote) are mostly sprinkled with a hint of charm and a whole lot of domestic contentment. Swooning melodies blur into washes of electric guitars that embody the connecting threads between the blend of country and pop arrangements that all fit comfortably into the current Nashville sound. Though his pleasant voice doesn’t really stand out from the pack, his tone is at all times relatable and highly listenable. 

The upbeat enthusiasm is immediately evident on opening track, the hand clapping Never Have I Ever and it goes on from there to resonate throughout. Drenched in fake sunshine, songs like Watch It, with its swirling pop melody and personalised lyrics and All I Ever Wanted with its woozy guitar shredding and breezy optimism, give the sense of well-rounded cohesion. The romantic uplift of Starts And Ends for instance, is structural to the song’s passionate embrace. Seemingly misplaced, Brett’s version of Springsteen’s much covered Cadillac Ranch, throbs with a turbo-charged fiddle-driven country-rock arrangement. For once he steps out of his easy-going vibe to show he knows how to light a fire under it. 

The charging Standing In the Dark rides a sweet and subdued 1980s groove. A little woozy, a little spitfire, this break-up song about life’s uncertainties showcases an edgier side to his vocals. Line In The Sand, a song he wrote by himself, features his energetic outpouring about the injustices of the world. This probably captures the entire ethos of exactly who Brett Kissel really is. The melody is simple enough, with electric guitars and drums coming in to highlight the deep meaning of the chorus. As for that chorus, he urgently pleads for people to stand up for their family. More songs like this would’ve lifted this album out of passable to essential.      

 www.brettkissel.com

January 2023