Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Teng is a Stanford grad and former computer geek who worked for software giant Cisco Systems in California’s Silicon Valley. But you’d never know it listening to this album, which is neither soulless nor calculating. Rather, the 27-year-old singer-pianist, working with producer Larry Klein (Madeleine Peyroux), crafts emotionally rich songs like the celebratory “City Hall” and the exquisite “Whatever You Want.” Add string-laden numbers like “Now Three” and her music sounds like a kind of luxurious chamber folk. July 25

San Francisco musician-activist Franti has never pulled his political punches (one of his songs, “Bomb the World,” even drew the ire of the FBI). Franti’s latest, inspired by travels to Baghdad, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, is radical stuff, with the singer-rapper calling for revolution on the incendiary title track. But Franti sweetens his message with bubbly reggae rhythms from Sly and Robbie and guest vocals from Pink on the joyous pop gem “One Step Closer to You.” Like Bob Marley crossed with UB40. July 25   

Jerry Garcia’s band had their Deadheads, while Jimmy Buffett has his Parrotheads. The fans of Tex-Mex rockers Los Lonely Boys are known as “Loopies,” who’ll undoubtedly be pleased with this followup to the group’s 2004 multiplatinum-selling debut. The Garza brothers, guitarist Henry, bassist Jojo and drummer Ringo (really), recruit Willie Nelson and their father, Tejano musician Enrique Garza Sr., on the country-rocking “Outlaws,” while tracks like “Oye Mamacita” bear an uncanny resemblance to (what else?) Santana. July 18