I received something scary in the mail last week.

That says a lot because I receive the strangest things in the mail at work.Aside from the complaints and death threats from music fans, I've been sent a variety of things other than CDs and tapes from record companies and music publicists.

The Squirrel Nut Zippers sent a bunch of Squirrel Nut Zipper candy; Ariel Public Relations sent a pack of lollipops; and Nerf Herder, A3 and Kiernan McGee sent a bunch of logo buttons.

The Rhino Records Hard Rock Cafe series also went button-happy, sending Hard Rock Cafe buttons, while Motley Crue sent me a bottle of Motley "Brew" -- "the soft drink that turns your insides blue." From the Misfits, an oversize logo sticker; a white "Popular" T-shirt from Nada Surf; Widespread Panic sent a long-sleeve jersey from the "Bombs and Butterflies" tour; and Depeche Mode sent a concert program to promote the band's most recent concert a couple of Decembers ago.

Some promotional items border on the tasteless. The band Pansy Division sent a bunch of trading cards that depicted the band in . . . um . . . compromising positions. I once got a mini-bottle of whiskey from Chivas Regal, when they were promoting Billy Joel's tour. And the band Chevelle sent me a rubber glove and a pen that looked like a syringe. Then there was some group, I can't remember which (thankfully), that sent a pack of contraceptives.

On occasion, there will be such other surprises as Diamond Doug & the Franklinville Tree Frogs' stuffed fuzzy frog. And Crosby Stills & Nash's press packet included an record-album-size (as in vinyl) cover sleeve of the band's new CD, "Looking Forward."

On the tasteful and functional side, Narada Records sent me a coffee mug. And MCA Records -- for Christmas -- a complete set of MCA Records drinking glasses. And a couple of weeks ago, I opened up a package from Foodchain Records and found a set of 3-D glasses.

And, no, it wasn't for that recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. It so happens that Foodchain Records' Web Site (www.foodchainrecords.com) is in 3-D.

Then there was Chip Davis, who not only masterminds Mannheim Steamroller but also promotes his own line of barbecue spices and sprays. I got a set of those, too.

Rhino Records also sent a set of love beads when the band Love released its anthology box set a few years ago. A packet of hand-rolled patchouli incense wands were in that mailing as well.

Come to think of it, Rhino is very elaborate with its packages. Not only does the company send greeting cards but also trading cards, including those for Burt Bacharach, Liberace and the Monkees. Rhino also sent a stamp-collectors book (that contained stamps of various Rhino Records album covers, a pocket protector to promote a "Musical Aptitude Test" and a promotional CD that was wrapped in an old 45 rpm single sleeve).

A music promoter's job is to send out information and products from musicians all over the world. And in this day and age, there are a lot of musicians vying for music critics' attention.

When a basic press packet -- black-and-white photos of the artists, a color slide, an extensive biography (even if you've never heard of the artist) and the CD or tape -- isn't enough, music promoters, as you can tell, get a little creative and crazy.

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But back to the scary thing I got in the mail last week: It wasn't a stuffed animal, card or shirt. It was a CD.

Its title: "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Music of Meat Loaf."

Yikes!!!

You can reach Scott Iwasaki by e-mail at scott@desnews.com.

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