The Best Love Songs You've Never Heard

Christmas. Valentine's Day. A birthday. An anniversary. A minor holiday known only to Hallmark and that special lady in your life, who will hit you with a blunt object if you don't remember to get her something. Whenever you're reading this, chances are, one of these is coming up, and you're not ready. Being short on cash makes it that much more painful - instead of buying a several thousand dollar piece of jewelry, you actually have to put some thought into your gift.

Mix tapes are as old as tapes, and possibly as old as mixes. Sure, it's been overdone, but there's a chance you might be able to pass it off as a sweet, ironic statement about the state of your relationship in this decaying culture.

Just don't...please, please don't fill it with Celine Dion and James Blunt and Warrant and whatever else you kids are listening to these days. If you actually present her with some thoughtful songs she hasn't heard before, your mix tape will mean something. Come; take my hand. I will show you the ways of under-appreciated ballads.

The Wonders - All My Only Dreams (That Thing You Do! OST)
They might be a fake band produced by Tom Hanks for a cutesy film, but the Wonders kind of rock. This, one of their softer pieces, features lead vocals by goofball Lenny (Steve Zahn) and explains that "if I had just one request, I'd stay with you, girl, I confess...all my only dreams." It might not make a lot of grammatical sense, but it's lovely anyway.

Damien Rice - The Cross-Eyed Bear (Help: A Day in the Life)
If your mix tape ends up sucking, at least this one will get you off the hook: "I love you, but I'm not God." From the man you brought you "The Blower's Daughter," that "can't take my eyes off you" song at the end of Closer, comes this soft retrospective on the mistakes we make in love. If all else fails, remind her that you "broke [her] doll - it was cross-eyed, that's all - only wanted to help it see straight."

Kyo - C'est ma faute (Le chemin)
This popular French band - and yeah, they don't capitalize the titles of things over there, I don't get it either - has a certain novelty romance factor. Namely, everything's in French! If you don't speak the language, the song title means "it's my fault" and the song is about how it's his fault. The album title means "the way" or "the road." That's enough education for today. The song sounds great, and is guaranteed to win anyone's heart, even if they don't parle français. Possibly even more so, because they're less likely to realize that the couple in the song has broken up.

Warrant - Cherry Pie (Cherry Pie)
Just kidding.

Lizzie West - Chariots Rise (West)
Featured in the offbeat romantic dramedy Secretary, "Chariots Rise" is all about how the perfect man can make you feel. With any luck, if you include this song, your tape will have this very effect. "Now I find in the end, with him I need not pretend."

Shawn Smith - Wrapped in My Memory (Shield of Thorns)
This, along with Smith's "Leaving California," was featured on "The Sopranos." You'll probably remember it if you hear it. This song is a nice bonus for those in long-distance relationships, whose loved ones are "wrapped in [their] memory like chains, and I'll say that the flowers will always be there in my heart."

Coldplay - The Scientist (A Rush of Blood to the Head)
No, seriously. It's underexposed, especially for a Coldplay song, and it's about a man realizing he's taken his girl for granted. Chances are you have done this, even if you didn't realize it, so you should probably cover your bases.