When it comes to Valentine's Day, there's a big emphasis on gift giving. But it's not the type of exchanging of gifts you see at Christmas. While Christmas gifts could be compared to an all-you-can-eat meal at Old Country Buffet, Valentine's Day gifts should be more comparable to a candlelit dinner at Zola's.

Now I haven't had too much experience with giving gifts on Valentine's Day -- a fact that is comforting for my bank account but gradually builds up my tendency toward awkward behavior around the opposite sex -- but you can't go wrong with a great mix tape. Why waste money on a generic Valentine's Day card when someone else has already said it better in song form?

What follows is 39 minutes of love brought to you by some personal favorites. If you're still in need of a last-minute idea for what to give that special lady or fella, feel free to use these tracks for your own personal mix tape. Just remember ... no Nickelback, under any conditions.

Side A

Side A: I May Not Be A Smart Man, But I Know What Love Is

Say Anything -- "Alive With the Glory of Love"

As Rob Gordon from High Fidelity said on the art of mix tapes, "You've got to kick off with a killer, to grab attention." This oddly upbeat rock number dealing with a couple in love during the Holocaust should do just that.

Standout lyric: "Should they kill me / your love will fill me / as warm as the bullets, yeah."

Minus the Bear - "We Are Not a Football Team"

This may not appear to be a love song -- what with the peculiar title and all -- but don't let Minus the Bear's affinity toward inside jokes turn you away. This is a great love song even if it dances on the subtle side.

Standout lyric: "I knew her in a way / that I knew not to speak / quietly took a seat / and thought I'd stay for a week."

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"

This song doesn't get enough accolades as being the best love song ever made. Bonus points for including Heath Ledger's rendition in 10 Things I Hate About You. Seriously, if this song doesn't get you laid, then you're with the wrong person.

Standout lyric: "At long last love has arrived / and I thank God that I'm alive."

Matt Nathanson - "Suspended"

Nathanson came to the State Theatre last week and said this was one of the few happy songs he's written. He then proceeded to play this, and I could actually hear every girl in the room thinking, "Please do me."

Standout lyric: "With your breathing / filling up my lungs / I can almost believe / that I'm almost enough."

Guster - "Satellite"

With the minor chord progression that opens the song, this might be an odd choice for a mix tape that is usually meant to elicit happiness, but once the chorus hits, you'll be glad you chose this song.

Standout lyric: "Passenger side, lighting the sky / Always the first star that I find / You're my satellite."

Side B

Side B: You Had Me At Hello

Incubus - "I Miss You"

Some people would rather have "Stellar" on a V-Day mix, but those people are unimaginative. "I Miss You" is not only better than "Stellar" musically and lyrically, but also hasn't been overplayed to death.

Standout lyric: "To know that you feel the same as I do / is a three-fold Utopian dream."

Bloc Party - "Sunday"

A perfect love song for the alcoholic couple, this song deals with the day after a heavy night of drinking with your significant other. Though Silent Alarm was the superior album, Weekend in the City had a couple catchy hits, and this is one of them.

Standout lyric: "You see, giant proclamations are all very well / but our love is louder than words."

Iron & Wine - "Such Great Heights"

It was tough deciding whether to put the original song by Postal Service or to use Iron & Wine's rendition. Both are great songs in their own right, but Iron & Wine's bare acoustic cover just projects so much more emotion.

Standout lyric: "I am thinking it's a sign / that the freckles in our eyes / are mirror images / and when we kiss, they're perfectly aligned."

Marvin Gaye - "Let's Get It On"

Another classic that is vital for any V-Day mixtape. Sure, the beginning guitar riff is the universal cue for turning the lights down low, but this song is awesome even if your main goal isn't to enhance fornication.

Standout lyric: "If the spirit moves ya / let me groove ya good."

Curtis Mayfield - "P.S. I Love You"

I must admit that I only heard this song after getting my hands on the Superbad soundtrack. It's a great closing song, and it has a very suitable title for that characteristic. If your special someone didn't get the message before this song, this will hopefully drive the point home.

Standout lyric: "I love you long as I can remember / Together, baby, how can we lose?"