Great call on Lhasa de Sala, what a beautiful album. Also Chris Whitley (I think the first was his best too).
Here's a few more - some rather personal favorites I guess - not exactly maninstream:
Madeleine Peyroux / Dreamland
Neutral Milk Hotel / On Avery Island
Joanna Newsom / The Milk-Eyed Mender
16 Horsepower / Sackcloth'N'Ashes (preceded by an EP)
Patty Griffin / Living With Ghosts
Gillian Welch / Revival