- Scott Walker: Bish Bosh – record of the year (4AD)
- Thomas Köner: Novaya Zemlya (Touch)
- Jan Bang & Erik Honore: Uncommon Deities (samadhisound)
- Sidsel Endresen & Stian Westerhus: Didymoi Dreams (Rune Grammofon)
- Jan Garbarek – Charlie Haden – Egberto Gismonti: Carta de Amor (ECM)
- Eivind Aarset: Dream Logic (ECM)
- Swans: The Seer (Young Gods)
- Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (Epic)
- Burnt Friedman: Bokoboko (nonplace)
- Wadada Leo Smith & Louis Moholo-Moholo: Ancestors (TUM)
- Astrid: High Blues (Rune Grammofon)
- Lambchop: Mr. M (City Slang)
Other outstanding records were made / released by Food, Arvo Pärt, Paul Buchanan, Leonard Cohen, James Yorkston, Stian Westerhus (solo), Frank Ocean, Keith Jarrett, Brian Eno, Dan Michaelson, Cyclobe, Tindersticks, Heiner Goebbels, Ivar Grydeland, Gerry Diver, Wilco, Diagrams, John Surman, Neil Young and Can (The Lost Tapes).