Getting publicity?

So, perhaps like many of you I publish albums (mostly to bandcamp) and for a brief time before or after try to get some publicity by soliciting blogs and review sites for coverage.  Today the first actual review was published http://www.theequalground.com/in…/smalt-mine-the-outer-rings and they gave my album a great rating and said a lot of nice things.
 
One review per 100 emails.  Maybe this is typical?  For this review I had to pay $25, which I know seems a little greasy but if I'd hired a publicity person to get me reviewed I would be paying him/her a lot more than that.
 
What I've tried:
 
1) focusing on music-related blogs and review sites in my area (or the area of anyone involved in the project)
2) mentioning bands that I've played with that might increase my chances of a review
3) being personal, telling them I like their site or a band they have recently reviewed on their site
4) being specific, asking very directly for a review or write-up (this had to be pointed out to me after I sent out a stream of emails that weren't really asking for anything, just letting the site know I'd released an album)
5) contacting the local paper
 
I don't have any connections...am just a musician who loves recording, makes great music, and would like people to be able to find and listen to that music.
 
I've got another project coming out either later this year or early next, and am asking for any "techniques" or advice as to how to do better on the publicity side of things.  It's just not my forte.

There aren't a lot of short cuts.  Probably the best thing is to hang around on the local scene and meet the right people, if you are talking about local press.  They come to shows, at least here in Dallas.  I know several of the local critic writers, tho I haven't approached them for any favors.  And I used to write copy at the local PBS and know a couple of the music people there (again, I've asked no favors which is maybe why they are still friendly?).
 
My first suggestion is get friendly with the locals media, but friends first, business later.  Most people switch gears when approached professionally.  If you meet the Appleton music critic don't start off pushing for an interview after you say hello.  As they say in football, act like you've been in the end zone before.  Don't shy away from the fact you are a musician, but don't act like you are a combination of Beethoven, Elvis and Clapton and you are doing the guy a favor.  If you can get them to ask for your stuff (rather than pressing it into their hands) you'll be in better shape.  If you play live, so much the easier, I would think.  But you may have to go where they are.  You may think that listening to music for a living is cool, until you have to force yourself to listen to the umpteenth self-produced singer-songwriter sing badly about how bad they feel.  Then you feel like loading a gun while debating whether it is for them or yourself.  I edited two college literary mags and the tripe I had to wade through was unbearable. Music critics have told me the same thing.  It may be a first world problem but still a pain.
 
And your best bet is to have something professionally pressed to hand out.  Nothing screams "put this in the bottom of the pile" like a hand-annotated CD or CD labeler.  Most studios (professional) will handle small runs - like a 100.  It costs, but everyone else has a well produced CD, so if you are in the game ....
 
The same goes with the music.  You may think your music is important, but to a critic (or label) there is a minimum level you need to reach technically and artistically.  Tech is easy enough to reach these days.  Artistically?   Just as a label needs to think how many units will this music move (style, etc.), a critic has to think "can I possibly say 200 words about this music and how much effort will that take?"
 
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No, there is no reason to not to try, esp. if you are out anyway playing gigs.  Most critics etc. are people too; I've just found if you act like people are people first, critic etc. second, you get treated as more than the next CD to listen to. And they don't get paid for the listening for listening to unsolicited work, it is just one of the jobs that get shunted to the newer staff members usually.  And no reflection on your work (I haven't gone to bandcamp to listen to your stuff).  It is just there is a lot of stuff out there.  I do find most stuff is worth a listen, even if it gets old fast if it isn't my style(s) of music.
 
From the sound of it you already out doing gigs - figure out who the media people are.  Talk to them (or listen).  Get comfortable w/ them.  Personally invite them to the next time you play - either as a solo or part of a band.  From there handing them a CD will feel like a natural exchange - your work, their work, and no pressure.  If they like it they'll do something with it.
 
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Thanks for the tip Jeff, looks like a potentially helpful read.