February, you're my little valentine!

So, ladies, I sent out the February mix Friday (priority mail, cuz I loves you). Because I probably won't get a chance to blog the tracklist until long after you get the CDs, I'll post it now. Hope you find some keepers on here!

"Love: the good, the bad, and the ugly" is the theme for this mix, which is comprised, as you've no doubt figured out, of love songs that encompass many forms of love, loosely broken into the three categories--good, bad, and ugly. The first three songs are in that specific order just as a general example of the categories, and the rest may be obvious or more difficult to pin down.

1. The Ritz ~Office

Gets the mix off to a rocking start, surrounding the chorus' "A kiss near the fountain at The Ritz--oh, yes, it was beautiful" with crazy lines like "Dancing drag queens, dentists teeth, homos, missing numbers, scrapes on my knees."

2. Civil Twilight ~The Weakerthans

I had this song on repeat for like a month straight. I love this story of a bus driver whose route constantly takes him past the house he used to share with his lover, and even more I love the tricks he uses to keep his mind preoccupied: "... or recite the names of provinces and Hollywood actors. Oh, Ontario, oh, Jennifer Jason Leigh."

3. 15 ~Rilo Kiley

I was originally going to use Breaking Up, but that wiley Heather beat me to it. Instead, I chose 15 to illustrate a very, very bad kind of love. The statutory kind.

4. Jesus, etc. ~Wilco

Ah, Jeff Tweedy. Allow me to drool at your feet. There's a lot of speculation about this song being a reference to one person trying to help another person through a drug addiction; others think it's a religious song or social commentary, but that's not what it means to me. I like to imagine a delicious Tweedy-like man trying to help a girl through her problems, trying to take her mind off the pain, all the while subtly revealing the depths of his feelings for her. But the song is open to interpretation.

5. I Don't Care What You Call Me ~David Ford

I had this song on my myspace page for quite a while. Gorgeous song about the end of a relationship and how he's been berated for so long that he doesn't even offer rebuttal. And possibly he's actually done something so awful that he can't offer an excuse. "And tear me on down. I am unforgivable. So why don't you just tell me what you really think of me?"

6. Superstar ~Sonic Youth

Delicious male version of the song everyone remembers Chris Farley and David Spade singing in Tommy Boy. "Don't you remember you told me you love me, baby? Said you'd be coming back this way again, baby." Sweetly delusional. You've been used, sweetheart.

7. Foundations ~Kate Nash

Seriously, who hasn't seen this couple? They're sick of each other, but for some reason they stay in a relationship and make everyone around them uncomfortable. They snipe at each other for some sick thrill. They should let go, but they can't. "Yes, it was childish, and you got aggressive. And I must admit that I was a bit scared, but it gives me thrills to wind you up."

8. The Good Life ~Kanye West

I know what you're thinking, Kanye doesn't do love songs. Oh, but you're so wrong. He's totally in love with himself, and almost every song is an homage to himself. I'd bet money that you'll all be singing "And now my grandmama ain't the only girl calling me baby!" in no time.

9. Die Alone ~Ingrid Michaelson

I know she's the new "it" girl right now and you've probably all bought her album already, but I really liked this song. It's a good follow-up to Kanye's self-absorbed song. She sings, "I never thought I could love anyone but myself, now I know I can't love anyone but you."

10. Scar That Never Heals ~Jeremy Fisher

Laura, don't let Ben use this for your wedding song. Though it does reference guns and it's an upbeat tempo, I've put this song in the ugly category.

11. Railroad ~The Zutons

Oh, so pretty. The man is laboring in a foreign country because it's the only place he can find work, but he carries her picture with him and writes her lots of letters. "I've saved every penny, my girl. I hope that you have waited out there."

12. Unmistakably Love ~Stephanie's Id

Pretty little love song. Also, she's from Asheville, N.C. Ever hear of it? :)

13. Diamond Heart ~Marissa Nadler

Though this song is hauntingly beautiful, I'd have to also put it in the ugly category. "I had a man in every town, and I thought of you each time I tore off my gown." If you dig her sound, you may also want to check out her song The Lonesome Death of Sylvia.

14. Romeo & Juliet ~Dire Straits

I may have put this on a couple of other mixes, so sorry if you're sick of it. I just really like this song with its classic theme of wrong timing.

15. Take Me to the Riot ~Stars

Never has ugly sounded so beautiful. "Saturday nights in neon lights, Sunday in the cell. Pills enough to make me feel ill, cash enough to make me well."

16. It's Not You, It's Me ~Coconut Records

Aka, the delicious Jason Schwartzman. Oh, baby. Make out with me now! Er...sorry.

Anyway, some say this song is about his ex Zooey Deschanel's struggle with anorexia. "Drinks only gin, says it's how to keep thin, and she's crying after every meal. No, you don't know how you're making me feel."

17. When Did Your Heart Go Missing? ~Rooney

What better way to follow up Jason Schwartzman than with his younger brother, the lead singer of Rooney? "I'm retracin' every step in my head. What did I miss back then? I was so, so misled." (I know the feeling well. People are bastards.)

18. I Love You, You Imbecile ~Pelle Carlberg

Winding down the mix, I have to end with some songs in the "good" category. "All I want is you. I can live with all the stupid things you do." I do tons of stupid things! Why isn't someone loving me, damn it? ;)

Also, check out the song Clever Girls Like Clever Boys.

19. Another Kind of Green ~John Mayer Trio

Oh, come on. Like you didn't know I'd put my lover on here.

Relationships are tough, especially when one starts worrying that maybe there's someone even better out there for them. "I know I might be anxious, but I'm still not crazy. And I don't need another kind of green to know I'm on the right side with you."