- 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)
- Chris Dooks & Machinefabriek: The Eskdalemuir Harmonium (Komino)
- Astrid: High Blues (Rune Grammofon)
- Lambchop: Mr. M (City Slang)
Other outstanding records were made / released by Eberhard Weber, Food, Arvo Pärt, Paul Buchanan, Leonard Cohen, James Yorkston, Stian Westerhus (solo), Frank Ocean, Keith Jarrett, Brian Eno, Dan Michaelson, Tindersticks, Tim Berne, Heiner Goebbels, Ivar Grydeland, Gerry Diver, Wilco, Diagrams, John Surman, Holly Herndon, Wadada Leo Smith & Louis Moholo-Moholo, Neil Young and Can (The Lost Tapes). And, last, but not least, Masabumi Kikuchi Trio with Paul Motian.