When I first loaded Dylan Gardner’s album Adventures in Real Time into my laptop’s disk player, I was dreading having to listen to the music of another teenage pop-star wannabe. However, as soon as I started listening to the first song, I am happy to say that I was mistaken.

The first song, “Let’s Get Started,” is a great way to start off the CD. The song has a great beat and a joyful tune that one can easily dance to, and it made me excited to listen to the rest of the CD. As I continued listening to the rest of Gardner’s album, I enjoyed the melody of his songs. The beat of the songs and the instrumental accompaniment are great. Personally, I loved the song “I’m Nothing Without You.” The use of the ukulele is very unique and gives the song a tropical twist.

The 17-year-old artist is very talented. He writes all his own songs, and with his creative tune, he makes music with the beat of a modern day alternative rock band, and the lyrics of a ’90s boy band. Together they create an enticing mix. If you like bands like All Time Low, you will love Dylan Gardner’s music too.

Although the music of the album is amazing, I personally didn’t like the lyrics and the voice of the artist. Gardner’s lyrics are similar to amateur poetry, and his voice is just ordinary and nothing special. However, when I hear Gardner sing, I can tell he has lots of spirit, which is what makes his music enjoyable. You can tell that he really loves what he is doing.