Seattle and Austin are both towns with very distinct personalities, both as cities and through the musicians that reside within. Yet here is one man — Jack Wilson — that flirts with geography, calling both locations home and melding together the two sounds for a style of folk-based americana rock that is entirely captivating.

It’s been a while since we covered Bourgeois Heroes, a little indie pop duo out of Northampton, MA (Jason) and Austin, TX (Elise). Who communicate over that long distance to create the music contained within their releases. At the time, I likened the duo to melodramatic 80s bands like Echo & The Bunnymen. On their latest single, Olé/Hola, the band slips away from those earlier sounds and holds its ground steady in indie pop. In fact, here they side more with modern underground indie pop artists like Afternoon Naps.

The Lovely Sparrows have a way of putting together words and music that make the band one of today’s leading folk-rock and folk-pop artists. With Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the Sparrows continue the trend they began as early as their debut EP, Pulling Up Floors, Pouring On (New) Paint. The musicianship remains just as tight and focused as was on Bury The Cynics. But Tall Cedars isn’t without its difference from the band’s prior work.

A sad admission: Travels in Lowland, the last album by The Migrant, should have easily been among my top albums of 2010. Thankfully, Denmark’s Bjarke Bendtsen is back with Amerika, set for an October 25 release. “The Hurricane” is the first track to be released from the album. In it The Migrant creates orchestrated folk-pop perfection.

Should has returned after 13 years with a new record, Life A fire Without Sound, courtesy Words On Music. Marc Ostermeier and Tanya Maus of Austin continue Should in the way they left off — beautifully pleasant and minimal shoegaze pop. “Turned Tables” fits this description nicely with a dream-like melody and soft, dual vocals.

Household Names is an almost too-perfect descriptor for an alternative pop group. And with this group’s extensive background of songs used in television appearances, it is even more appropriate. There was a time when groups like Soul Asylum or Gin Blossoms were the centerpieces for any given film or TV show. And now, Jason Garcia and crew have created the perfect songs for a speeding car shot, moment of clarity, or running-through-the-streets-in-a-hectic-fashion. And all can be found on their third self-released album Stories, No Names.

Daniel Francis Doyle hits Seattle later this week and will perform at Comet Tavern. Doyle is a one man math rock band and he pumps out pointed guitar riffs, obscure percussive genius, and wildly intellectual wordsmith-ery. No doubt you’ll see several off last year’s We Bet Our Money On You, possibly including favorites “Cursive” and “Old Lives”.

Sometimes a band needs a shake-up, and sometimes a name change is the perfect catalyst. Royal Forest wasn’t always this band’s name; no, they were once called Loxsly. With the new name, Royal Forest sheds the past and reinvents themselves with a slightly updated sound that hints of a little math-rock and a curious Texas-inspired blend of folk and pop that’s a bit further away from their hometown heroes Spoon than their previous work, though the “syncopated snares” remain.

Meet Harlem, your new favorite garage/thrash band. Based in Austin, by way of Nashville, they recently released their sophomore album, titled Hippies. Hippies is packed with the jangle of rough guitar pop and carefree vocals packed with occasionally indecipherable lyrics. These traits are often synonymous with garage pop. It is harmonious with a hint of summertime, and it’s privy to the pop of yesterday… well, many yesterdays ago. “Be Your Baby” has the sound of Buddy Holly but with a punk edge. “Someday Soon” is …

Originally recorded in 1974 by Big Star, Alex Chilton’s “Take Care” wasn’t released until 1978 on their Third/Sister Lovers LP. In 2003, Yo La Tengo included a rendition of track on their album Summer Sun. Finally, in 2009, The Lovely Sparrows laid down their version of Yo La Tengo’s version while recording demos for their upcoming sophomore release. A video was made.