I have just spent the last 6 months recording my first album and just about to send off for all the lisenses, codes and everything else thats needed later today, then off to print. So I am going to have a period of time where I am waiting for my cds to come back to me in nice shiney wrappers.

However I was going to produce a short run of 50 (properly produced) as close as I can get to the finished article (packaging wise) to send to a few impatient family, friends and influential people.
So my question is... as an artist do I send CDs to people to review and ask them if they would listen and review it? I thought it may be usefull to have some comments and feedback ready for when I launch it.

The CD will go online to buy as a CD, as a download (itunes) or at live performances.

It's my first album and any advice on what I should do with it to get the most from it would be appreciated. I am sure there are things I havn't thought of!