Today I was going through the hills of email (hills in cyberspace) that I get sent about requesting reviews. I need to be clear about something.

1. We do not mind reviewing your stuff. Seriously. Send it along. Email us first for an address, and then drop it off at your soonest convenience at one of the snazzy blue boxes in your neighbourhood.
2. We DO mind when you send me an email that makes my eyes bleed when I read it. Damon is even more of a grammar nazi than I, and he's nicer than me in general. Don't do it to either of us. 

If you're an adult, or someone who went to school for some period in their lives, or even if you didn't, you should know that correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization is super important when it comes to composing a professional email. How professional are we talking here? Not that professional. You're a regular guy/gal who is emailing me, who is pretty regular too, about reviewing your stuff. However, if you want something from me, in this case you do, the best way to do that is to make sure you do not sound like an illiterate 12-year old gangsta. Most emailing machines have spelling/grammar check. 

When you see this –> .    The next word needs to be capitalized. Always.

Example of an awesome email:

Hey LovetheMusic,

This is Band X from Seattle. We just put out a new album, called XYZ. If you can give us an address, we'd love to send you our press kit.

Thanks,

BAND X

Example of a bad email:

hey

my name is badspellah johnson . chek out my band at myspace/com/badspellahsband

 mayeb well send you a cd can we have your address thanks

badspellahjohnson

 Notice the incorrect URL. The period two spaces after johnson. The lack of a period after thanks. Etc. Etc.

Why is this important? Because, seriously, when I get an email like the first one, I reply immediately with an address and more information, and a PROMISE to feature your stuff on my site. When I get an email like the second one, I get nausea, I forward it to Damon in hopes that he doesn't mind dealing with illiterate people, and then it usually never gets responded to. At all. I don't want to promote bad grammar. This is why really stupid people shouldn't have kids.

Literately yours,

Jen

Major Badass 

-D.

For Schnizz and Hiccups:

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/CCR%20-%20Green%20River.mp3]

I'm sure everyone's noticed that this is going to be Summer of the Sequel part III, the most prominant being Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End, and Shrek the Third.  The latter I had no intention of seeing, as CG films have lost a whole lot of their lustre for me.  However, because I was quite bored today, I broke down and finally watched Shrek 2.  It may have changed my mind about watching the Third.  Not because it was especially funny or that I was impressed by the animation [I quit caring], but because of the music.  If you can forgive the Counting Crows for not being good anymore and Chris Carrabba for crying in his beer, and can look past the songs that the director wanted to used ["Funky Town", "Livin' La Vida Loca"], then you've got a surprisingly indie soundtrack.  Eels, Tom Waits, Frou Frou, and a few others that I don't remember right now.  Then, thinking back to the first film you had Eels [again], Rufus Wainwright, and the Proclaimers.  This in mind, I may just be persuaded to check out the new one.

So this post kind of got put on the back burner with the Ozma review and everything going on, but I still feel one of the most important aspects of a roadtrip is the soundtrack for it.  Here are a four pointers for creating a mix disc or MP3 playlist to fill in the silent miles.
Call me clichéd, but I find songs about the road very roadworthy.  There are a lot of Through Being Cool era Saves the Day tracks ["Vast Spoils of America", "Shoulder To the Wheel", etc.], but my favourite is definitely "Take Our Cars Now!" from the EP I'm Sorry I'm Leaving, so I've supplied it here for you.
Another great thing to consider is the sing along factor of a song.  "Take Our Cars Now!" is a perfect example of that.  Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" proved pretty good at it, too, plus it's danceable.  For your enjoyment in this category I give to last years slammin' summer anthem "If You Got the Money" by Jamie T.  It's a British clean version, just so you know, the edited phrase is "Do you give a toss?" For those who plan on traveling through the Great Plains or the Desert South West or any other vast expanse of empty drudgery, music for driving fast becomes essential.  Songs that just cause your foot to drop on the gas.  Songs like "La Grange" by ZZ Top or something from that old Fat Wreck Chords compilation you've got kickin' around.  One you wouldn't have thought of that I discovered going through southern Nevada is "Fortress" by Pinback, which is my offering to you. Finally, you must consider that the road to and the road from are generally quite different trips.  Heading out to adventure warrants more raucous jamz.  The trip back usually involves more night driving, and begs more reflective tones, stuff that the whole crew can feel united, maybe even infinite, around.  Suitable sounds come from the Shins, acoustic Ben Harper, and Johnny Cash's American Recordings.  One of the best night rides I've had has been set to Death Cab for Cutie, and I'm giving you "The Employment Pages" 'cuz I think it fits the mood I'm thinking of perfectly.
As always, though, remember my rules for mixtaping and be original, throw in a couple joke tracks and, above all, keep your audience in mind.  Happy mixing!

Take Our Cars Now - Saves The Day

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/07%20Take%20Our%20Cars%20Now.mp3] 

The Employment Pages - Death Cab for Cutie

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/07%20the%20Employment%20Pages.mp3] 

If You Got The Money - Jamie T

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/15%20If%20you%20got%20the%20Money.mp3] 

Fortress - Pinback 

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Fortress%20-%20Pinback.mp3] 

About a month ago I promised you all that I'd be posting my Exposure Box playlists. This, however, has not proven to be the case. I'm sorry to have lied to you nice people, I figure maybe posting my final playlist with a few links to what inspired a couple of the songs would appease both you beautiful readers and Stereo Gum, who is responsible for most of the links. If you're that interested in the old E-Box playlists, they're mingled in my myspazz blog.  I apologize in advance for anything else I've written.  Ever.

"End of the Tour" - They Might be Giants
"Little Lover's So Polite" - Silversun Pickups
"Dancing in the Moonlight" - the Smashing Pumpkins
"Wake Up" (Live) - the Arcade Fire & David Bowie
"Icky Thump" - the White Stripes
"Yes We Can" - Made in Mexico
"the Doom Song" - Gir
"Fire it Up" - Modest Mouse
"I Turn My Camera On" - Spoon
"Whole Wide World" - Wreckless Eric
"Every Car you Chase" - Party Ben
"On-Line" - Gnarls Barkley
"Transformer" - Gnarls Barkley
"Analyse" - Thom Yorke
"the Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" - Sufjan Stevens
"the Fragile Army" (mashup) - the Polyphonic Spree
"the Libertine" - Patrick Wolf
"When They Came for Us" - Shiny Toy Guns
"My Humps" - Alanis Morrisette
"If You Got the Money" - Jamie T
"Rubber Traits" - Why?
"the Mask" - DangerDOOM f/Ghostface
"Vanilla Sky" - Paul McCartney
"Toronto Sucks" - Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie
"We'll Meet Again" - Johnny Cash
"Generic Crunk Rap" - MC Lars

The show had a good run, I'm glad to have partaken in it, and I'm glad the few of you that did listened.  Good night, and good luck.

As I was jamming out to Damon's last show of the season (Exposure Box radio show), I felt inspired to ask a question: Would anyone be interested in podcasts, done by..us?

Either participate in our poll, or leave your thoughts in the comments. Thanks guys!

P.S. I have no idea if this will show in the feeds, so if it doesn't just swing by if you can and let us know at our site.  

[poll=1]