The man sitting across from me in a tuque, faded long-sleeved shirt and stubble sipping a coffee and speaking quietly doesn't quite look or carry himself like an Idol.

Or almost Idol.

Or, as some publication recently dubbed him, the sexiest man in Canada, for that matter.

No, last year's Canadian Idol runnerup and said heartthrob Rex Goudie is a little more grounded than one might expect.

"Well, you know what they say," he says by way of explanation, "you can take the boy out of Newfoundland, but you can't take the Newfie out of the boy."

True to his words, the Burlington, Nfld.-native is a long way from home, currently on a cross-Canada promotional tour to support his debut CD Under the Lights, which hits stores Tuesday.

He actually began work on the disc days after placing second to Calgarian Melissa O'Neil during the most recent Idol competition, completing recording on the last possible day in order to get it out for Christmas.

Goudie admits it's not the best way to record an album, but he also admits with this being the first of what he hopes to be many, he'll take what he can from the experience and use it next time.

"With anything you do for the first time you take in as much as you can," he says.

"Going through recording this album and going through the whole process of Canadian Idol I learned so much about the music industry, it's unbelievable."

As for the disc, Goudie thinks it's a fair representation of who he is and the music he likes -- Everyman pop rock.

Like the other Idol-driven albums, the tracks on Under the Lights were written by some of the industry's notable songwriters including Christopher Ward and former Odds member Craig Northey, whose contribution Write It In Lightning was apparently originally written for The Who.

Goudie also managed to contribute to the songwriting process on four tracks including the one he's most proud of, Call Your Name -- written for his late uncle and namesake, and his friend who died during the competition.

"To be able to carry on their legends for years and to have more and more people hear about those guys," he says of his modest tribute, "it would be an honour."

Ultimately that's what Goudie himself is looking for -- to create and sing something that has the same lasting effect as those two people who touched his life.

"My dream in music is, like 10 or 15 years from now, I'd like to be hearing my songs regularly on a classic rock station -- then you know you did good."

Only time will tell on that specific dream.

For now, Goudie's had several good indications he's heading in the right direction, including radioplay for his first single Run and a CD release in St. John's Mile One Stadium, which sold out in minutes.

There's also another eagerly anticipated Canadian tour -- this time to perform -- which will bring him and O'Neil to Calgary's Jubilee Feb. 25.

And finally, there's also the honour of being named Canada's sexiest man -- something he takes with a grain of salt, but, like an old industry pro, also as yet one more opportunity to take advantage of.

"I'm just some random guy from Newfoundland. I've got more scars on my body than we can count," he says holding up a bandaged finger as example.

"But that will help -- maybe some people will say 'Who is this guy? Let's hear his music.' "