If there is one thing I’ve been accused of it is making some damn good love mixtapes. And I say accused because you make a mix tape for a single person (if you’re a gentleman that is). And in that regard, I’ve never had a complaint. However, the habit of keeping that playlist on a computer used by others has often led to torment.

Hey Frank, what is this iTunes playlist named Jessica?

Oh my god, its all lame acoustic shit. You’ve even got Banana Pancakes on here? What a pussy.

But I’ll let the haters keep hating because I know they burned a copy the next day and got laid off my hard work. And now YOU can do the same. And these are gender-neutral mixes, so no matter what you’re into – I’m gonna help make it happen.

Love Mixtape #1 – A Little Electronic, A Little Sweet

seabearSeabear has a really mellow, yet filling vibe. They are great to start a mixtape with as they set a definite tone – the listener better curl up in their covers and get ready to be taken to that first time you kissed. And the lyrics are fairly confusing, but there are enough hints to convince someone this is a sweet, melancholy love song.

Seabear – I Sing I Swim

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born ruffiansBorn Ruffians remain one of the greatest band’s I was ever introduced to by reading this blog. And anything from their oddball and noisy Red, Yellow, & Blue album would seem like a poor choice to express attraction. But I assure you, the opening lyrics are beyond perfect, even if the second half of the song is beyond understanding.

Born Ruffians – Little Garçon

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miike snowMiike Snow is leading my best of 09 list at the moment. The song Silvia is clearly about passion and is one of the sexiest electronic songs I’ve heard in awhile. And if you are making a mix for someone named Silvia, well hopefully you’ve already used this song, but if not please let me know how it works out.

Miike Snow – Silvia

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animal collectiveAnimal Collective make some really bizarre and wild music. But that is perfect. You just hit a home run with Miike Snow. Animal Collective’s My Girls is for rounding the bases and collecting high fives from your team mates.

Animal Collective – My Girls

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junior boysJunior Boys have made a lot of my mixtapes with the song Dull To Pause. Their mellow electronic sound combined with smooth, breathy vocals make a solid love mixtape addition. And honestly, this song is just GOOD.

Junior Boys – Dull To Pause

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john vandersliceJohn Vanderslice continues the electronic music combined with slower tempo breathy singing. And this song is sort of a break up song – okay, he mentions a few times that he hooked up with your friend. BUT I still think if the recipient really likes you, they will identify the undertones.

John Vanderslice – C & O Canal

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zee aviZee Avi is the sweet little singer songwriter recently out of Brushfire Records. I think it is a pretty amateur move to fill up a mixtape with sappy acoustic songs. But Zee sings with such an honesty that I felt it was appropriate. And I haven’t heard a sappy acoustic song this good in a long time.

Zee Avi – Monte

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pictures and soundPictures And Sound are a really great band that I think may have been overlooked by many music aficionados. This song was really chosen for the lyrical content – you can’t lose with an apocalyptic question – if we were the last two people on Earth? Role playing AND bargaining, nice.

Pictures And Sound – The Last Ocean

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avett brothersThe Avett Brothers are no strangers to the pages of the Audio Muffin. And I’m not going to say that this isn’t clearly a song of heart break. But it is just so beautiful it doesn’t matter. This is a great mixtape tune.

The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You

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feistFeist surely has a handful of heart-stoppers to end a mixtape, but this one is definitely one of the best. Granted, the lyrics could be heavier, but the delivery overwhelms the actual words to give any meaning the listener is looking for. And just as you are snuggling up with your sweetheart you have the mix end with that hauntingly beautiful backing chorus.

Feist – Intuition

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  1. B on Thursday 3, 2009

    still laughing from the opening hymnal. you are such a hopeless romantic.

  2. Bootsy on Thursday 3, 2009

    I’m such a sucker….. and You are the tops…
    (2007′s soulmates.com just got some play on the other day’s drive….)

    Thanks for a new mix.

  3. FRANK on Thursday 3, 2009

    Oh snaps – I think the next mixtape will have to be the soulmates one – that one was sooo good.

  4. hot dog the rapper on Thursday 3, 2009

    If they hate then let ‘em hate and watch the money pile up.

  5. Davud on Thursday 3, 2009

    Great site man, great playlist.

  6. Train on Thursday 3, 2009

    Yep, definitely going to add this to my arsenal of mixtapes. You need to go all retro and throw a mix on one of these bad boys.

  7. FRANK on Thursday 3, 2009

    Damn – that shit is $40 bucks! I always saw mixtapes as the poor man’s seduction device. If you have 40 bucks you can just give a girl 40 bucks to make out with you. That would be way easier.

  8. Train on Thursday 3, 2009

    You are wise beyond your years Big Frank.

  9. natalie on Thursday 3, 2009

    these links no longer work :(