Brett Kissel continues his ambitious Compass Project with its third installment, this time exploring traditional country music with western influences. That theme encompasses both the sound of the record—think ’90s George Strait with flourishes of Hank Williams and Glen Campbell—as well as its lyrical content, as heard on the standout track “Missin You in San Antone.” Following the modern country of South and the Appalachian-influenced East, West further underscores his encyclopedic grasp of the genre. Highlights include a faithful and reverent cover of Campbell’s beloved 1968 hit “Wichita Lineman,” as well as the Strait-celebrating “Strait Country.” Fellow Canadians George Canyon, Don Amero, and Brad Johner join Kissel on another album high point, the old-school waltz “Oil and Cattle.” Kissel ends the LP on a vulnerable note with “Here’s Hoping There’ll (Always Be a Cowboy),” a gentle plea for the cowboy way of life to survive modern times.