Ah, regret. That most bitterestest of pills. That which consists of commenters saying, “You asshole! You forgot ____!” or the more polite, “Excuse me, dear blogger, but you forgot _____. You asshole.” Or even of me, alone at night with a shuffle and a pair of ears, silently sobbing, “Oh, dear God. I forgot ____. I’m such an asshole.”

My best of 2008 post is here. Below are six records you won’t find on it, but probably should have, listed in order of “D’oh!”

6. Introducing Gentleman Jesse-Gentleman Jesse. Simple, solid songs and the vocal quality to back them up.

Black Hole-Gentleman Jesse

5. “The Rustic Contemporary Sounds Of Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause”-Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause. Solid bar-room blues by a woman with a phenomenal voice. I found this album on emusic after the New Year, based on a recommendation from some blog I read but can’t remember. And boy was I grateful.

You Think You Know Me-Anna Kramer

4. “Can’t Forget”-Rukus. Available as a CD or digital download from CD Baby for just ten bucks, Rukus is the future of hip hop. From the Lupe/Kanye/Common school, this Houston emcee is simply extraordinary. He’s got great vocab, effortless flow, and deep content. Everything you need.

The Boom and the Bap-Rukus

3. “Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele and the Way Back Machine”-s/t. I reviewed this after I got my 2008 list together. So witty.

2. Parc Avenue-Plants and Animals. Simply astounding indie rock and pop, nearly as deep and powerful as Thao’s “We Brave Bee Stings and All.”

Good Friends

1. “Saint Dymphna”-Gang Gang Dance. How did I resist the magical wonderfulness that is the Brookyn-based Gang Gang Dance? Even when so many others were telling me how great it was? The answer is simple: I’m an asshole.

Desert Storm-GGD

Honorable mention:

- Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, and the Amorphous Strums, “Dark Developments.”