Nick Drake and others like him

John Martyn-Solid Air
Iron & Wine-Woman King EP
Iron & Wine-Our Endless Numbered Days
Jose Gonzalez-In Our Nature AND Veneer

Similar to Nick Drake, but contemporary, would be Alexi Murdock. His album "Time Without Consequence" is excellent.

Jeeze, it took that long for someone to come up with Alexi Murdoch (spelled wrong in previous post). ABSOLUTELY!!! Time Without Consequence is a GREAT CD and sounds as if he's channeling Nick Drake. He's touring right now with a few new songs. I missed the show here but my friend caught it and said he was great. Lots of other good recommendations above, but Alexi would be at the very top of my list. If you like Drake, I'd bet you may also enjoy Ray La Montagne. Not the same,...much more impactful. The recent one isn't as good as the previous two... just a hunch that you'd enjoy his stuff. Another not yet mentioned that belongs on the list of looser references is Damien Rice.

Also check out the documentary film, "A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake" if you get a chance. It comes with the box set of his three albums, Fruit Tree, but you may be able to rent it separately. Very well done documentary on his life.

An enthusiastic second for Bonnie Prince Billy's 'Master and Everyone'. For more contemporary artists, you might also like Sun Kil Moon (e.g. Tiny Cities, Ghosts of the Great Highway, April) and Sufjan Stevens--Seven Swans is probably the closest in style to Nick Drake.

Great call all around, Eslaudio. That reminds me of yet another rather less well-known and melancholic artist in the same 'family' as Drake and Elliot Smith. Try Damien Jurado's, Where Shall You Take Me?.