Oh yes! If you like Ben Harper you should try The John Butler Trio's new offering 'Grand National'. I discovered their first album 'Three' when I backpacked in Australia in 2001. Awesome pedal steel/slide. You may still be able to view their performances from Live Earth on MSN.
Also new PJ Harvey album 'White Chalk' is very good. It takes some getting used to as is more piano orientated than her usual bluesy guitar sound but, in my humble opinion, it's comparable to Nick Cave's 'The Boatman's Call'.