You won’t find this album on sale at any store in America: it is only available in the UK. Here’s a little heads up — Mr. Hudson is one of the best new artists to hit the scene this year. You may have heard him on Jay-Z’s new song “Young Forever,” and now his solo career has exploded. His debut album, Straight No Chaser, is executive produced by Kanye West and features songs fitting for Kanye’s album 808’s and Heartbreak. Don’t let Kanye’s influence fool you though — Mr. Hudson thankfully succeeds where he miserably failed.

Mr. Hudson’s sound is rooted in the ’80s mold, complete with synths and soaring instrumentals. “Supernova,” featuring Kanye West himself, is a piece of synth-pop heaven. An emotional appeal to an ex-lover, the song ends in a minute-long symphony of repeating “You’ve got it wrong when you say our love is gone,” reaching epic proportions. Likewise, album highlight “Knew You Were Trouble” includes a gorgeous synth-laced instrumental and an outstanding chorus.

Yet, Straight No Chaser is not entirely overstated. Songs with sparse instrumentals such as the love song “Central Park” and melancholy tracks like “Instant Messenger” are entertaining in their own right. Not only does the album have the trademark ’80s sound, but it also has elements of R&B and hip-hop, courtesy of Kanye.

The other album standout track “Everything Is Broken,” enlists rapper Kid Cudi over a synth-R&B fusion beat, and other songs on the album have that same influence.

Listening to the album, it is obvious that they AutoTune the hell out of Mr. Hudson’s voice. However, the raw emotion in his vocals actually doesn’t make this a distraction; while Kanye sounds like a high-pitched robot, Mr. Hudson at least has a personality to match the meaning of his lyrics. Although Straight No Chaser does not hit U.S. shelves until its Dec. 1 release date, the wait is truly worth it. This is one pop gem that should not be missed.