It’s been a long time since I made a legitimately sappy mix CD for someone. You know, the kind that has intentions? YOU KNOW. Sadly, now that I’m married, the time to make mix CDs for boys with the express intention of inviting them over to “watch a movie” are loooooong gone. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it was fun to have that breathless excitement and hopeful expectation that something awesome was going to happen. Even if it ended up being terrible with a capital T. The anticipation was heady. On the other hand, dating is THE WORST and I was terrible at it. There’s a good chance I have incredibly thick rose-colored glasses about the whole thing.

ANYWAYS.

Ross and I have a wedding to attend this afternoon. Some good friends are saying good-bye to the swinging single life and tying the knot. To each other. I’m so excited for them to try out this whole marriage thing, and I wish them the very best in their new adventure. (blah blah blah wedding blah blah blah) I got them an actual gift and wrapped it up really pretty, but the whole event got me thinking about punk rock love songs, and how much I love them. So, in honor of Tony and Jodi’s wedding, I created the Punk Rock Love Letter mix. It wasn’t easy. There are about as many songs about love as there are sub-genres of punk. I had the hardest time not putting a bunch of ska or emo-y stuff on there. I think what made it is pretty solid, though. Some songs are obvious, some aren’t so much.

The Vandals – I Have A Date

This song perfectly captures what it’s like to be a teenager and in loooooooooove.

The Queers – Fuck The World

“Love Songs for the Retarded” was one of the first albums I bought, mostly because the boy I had a crush on in high school wore Queers shirts a lot. (I found out about a lot of music this way. I’ll tell you about my Pansy Division experience later). The whole album is adorable, but this is my favorite.

Screeching Weasel – You’ll Be In My Dreams Today

Ok, so I know that Ben Weasel is a dick. I think he’s proven that over and over. But I love this song. It’s that perfect post-first date euphoria.

Alkaline Trio – Clavicle

Alkaline Trio is one of those bands that everyone knows, and everyone loves and all of their songs are about girls and whatnot, but whatever. Clavicle earns it’s rightful place with the bridge “I’ve called you twice. It’s been a hellish fight to not think about you all the time. Sitting around waiting for your call.”

Saves The Day – Do You Know What I Love The Most

A fast-paced little ditty about growing up and running away with a girl.

The Descendents – I’m The One

There are so many Descendents songs to choose from… Silly Girl, She Loves Me, Good Good Things, Marriage…. It was hard to pick just one, but I like a good, solid declaration of love.

Jawbreaker – Want

A guy once told me that girls will never truly understand Jawbreaker or Alkaline Trio. I think that was one of the most insane things I’ve ever heard. Love is love, jackass. Also, even though Blake has gone full-on Joaquin Phoenix, I have a soft spot in my heart for him and he is more than welcome to play acoustic Jawbreaker songs on my front porch whenever he wants. Seriously…

The Replacements – Unsatisfied

I feel like you can’t have a punk rock love songs mix without the Replacements. Not only because they are reuniting for three shows, none of which are anywhere near me (SOMEONE FLY ME TO DENVER/CHICAGO/CANADA!!!), but because they are such a huge influence for so many other bands. There is so much longing in this super-simple song that it’s insane.

Green Day – The One That I Want

Do you guys remember really old Green Day? The pre-Dookie days? (That sounds really dirty for some reason.)Those dudes were really ahead of their time, and I give them snaps for staying relevant after all this time, but my favorites will always be those first couple of albums.

The Bouncing Souls – Quick Check Girl

Unrequited love and puking up funnel cake. Enough said.

The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog

For some reason, this is the go-to song in movies when there are “punk rock” people having sexy-times. Or is that in my head? Whatever.

The Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have)

We’ve all done it. This is like the crappy relationship theme-song. It may be a terrible ending point, or an awesome one, depending on your view of love. Either way, it’s an incredible song.

So, what am I missing? There were a bunch of things I was dying to put on here that Spotify refused to believe were actual songs that other people listen to. (Apparently the bands I really like were all actually terrible and I was the only one still listening to them…)

Follow me on Spotify because I know you secretly want to know when I’m listening to Yo Gabba Gabba.