Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Ever since 1984’s How Will the Wolf Survive, this Latin band from East L.A. has proven itself to be one of the most intelligent rock groups anywhere. Forget “La Bamba.” Instead, check out this fine concept album, chronicling the immigrant experience, and Los Lobos’ best work since 1992’s Buñuel-like dreamscape classic, Kiko. From the defiant “The Road to Gila Bend,” about an Hispanic fugitive, and the infectious “Chuco’s Cumbia” to the gorgeous, folk-flavored “Luna,” this is American roots music at its finest. Sept. 12

Sugarcult seems to have sorted out its identity crisis. On its debut album, the SoCal quartet displayed a fondness for carefree, punky anthems of the blink-182 variety. On the band’s followup, the band shifted to a more serious, hard-rock stance. For their third album, singer Tim Pagnotta and crew seem to have settled on lyrically lightweight power-pop songs like “Do it Alone,” “Shaking” and the “Majoring in Minors,” about one-night-stands and longer-term affairs. A predictable, but highly commercial formula. Sept. 12

It’s been more than a decade since the Motor City rock legend released an album of new material. The son of a Ford plant worker, best known for hits like “Night Moves” and “Old Time Rock & Roll” (remember Tom Cruise’s skivvies dance in Risky Business?), is back in the game with the Stones-y rocker “Wreck This Heart” and the mid-tempo ballad “Wait for Me,” which echoes his 1980 hit “Against the Wind.” For “Real Mean Bottle,” Seger, now 61, teams up with his protégé Kid Rock for Detroit-style country stomper. Sept. 12