

Don’t let the title fool you: This sixth studio album from the beloved band 49 Winchester isn’t a departure from the gritty, narrative country rock of its predecessors, but rather an expansion. The band decamped to one of Dave Cobb’s state-of-the-art studios in Savannah, Georgia, to record Change of Plans, leaning into the Grammy-winning producer’s uncanny ability to help artists sound more like themselves. The album, then, won’t sound unfamiliar to longtime fans, though it does feel more spacious and lived-in, both narratively and sonically. Take lead single “Slowly,” a rich and layered account of shedding youthful bad habits in favor of growing spiritually, with an aching vocal from Isaac Gibson that reinforces the complex emotions explored lyrically. “Oh Savannah” takes inspiration from its titular city, though Gibson and company personify the coastal town to craft a story of unrequited love. Other highlights include opener “The Window,” which takes an unflinching look at the iniquities of blue-collar labor, and “Bringin’ Home the Bacon,” a two-stepper with shades of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steve Earle.