The Wire 12/8/08
In a demonstration of his musical erudition, singer-songwriter Tom Yoder picks up a variety of stringed instruments on his latest album, “Never Get Enough.” In addition to singing, Yoder deftly manipulates the strings of acoustic and electric guitars, bass, fiddle and mandolin. His skills emerge in a number of musical contexts on the disc, which jumps between country-rock, bluesy folk and instrumental bluegrass.

Yoder’s rootsy voice and arsenal of strings combine for a warming Americana sound with a rural New Hampshire feel. “I don’t want to be a star, I just want to be the best for you. And I don’t need a fancy car, ’cause I can always find my way to you,” he sings in the title track. This endearing sense of modesty prevails throughout all 10 songs, belied only by several posed pictures he includes of himself on the CD sleeve.

Following the folky country ballad “Mare Take Me Home,” Yoder dives into some foot-stomping instrumental bluegrass on “Red Squirrel.” “Ain’t Enough Time” shifts to a sultry R&B style, while “Skippin’” reverts to simple, lighthearted folk roots. “Tuck and Roll” is an instrumental country swing romp that precedes the disc’s soft and sentimental closing number, “Start It All Over.”

Yoder and his entourage recorded most of the album at Top of the Hill Studios in Eaton. In addition to engineering and mixing the disc, Tom Dean plays harmonica on one track and sings harmony vocals. Scott Donnelly plays banjo on another, while Ian Katz plays sax, Duncan Watt plays organ, Dean Thomas plays drums and Alana MacDonald and Don Campbell add backing vocals. - Written by Matt Kanner

Fosters Daily Democrat
"The immensely talented Yoder co-produced Roots with one of New Hampshire’s best singer-songwriters and former Devonsquare member Tom Dean, who sometimes pairs with Yoder on stage as a duo. And Dean is no slacker at assembling songs into pretty packages; just check out his Your Own Backyard (Dev Productions, 1999).

This first solo outing for longstanding Don Campbell Band fiddle, mandolin and guitar journeyman Tom Yoder gives meaning to the word ‘multiform.’ Sampling deep within the well of acoustic roots style country and blues, Layin Down Roots also treads the terrain of Old and New Country with a little New Grass, pop balladry and a sizzling jig/reel thrown in the pot for this mostly all original compilation. An outstanding debut." - Laura Pope