The results are stunning…The entire work is a vibrant testament to Buckwheat Zydeco’s spirit, reminding us that Louisiana’s musical heritage has taken all the hurricanes could give. This is an album that can introduce a new generation of music fans to the world of Zydeco music and serve as a wonderful reminder about what a great Zydeco band can do. – Living Blues

Lay Your Burden Down ends up being Dural's most accomplished and mature album yet, moving from start to finish like everything belongs together. Nothing misses its mark, and several tracks do so much more than that… He has given us something else again, an album that works both at the dance party and still rings clear the next day when maybe it's time to dig deeper and do a little thinking. It's the best kind of musical synthesis.
– Allmusic.com

On this sucker he nails it firm and deep…The opener "When The Levee Breaks," the Memphis Minnie/Kansas Joe McCoy classic known to rock fans from Led Zep's version, signals that something magical is happening here with its Louisiana-style Southern rock fury…With the able assistance of Steve Berlin as producer, the singer and accordionist creates a potent brand of Greater Gulf Music…By the time this delicious disc cools down on the closing grace note instrumental waltz of "Finding My Way Back Home," you know you're in the presence of bayou music greatness. – Blurt.com

Ace accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco (Stanley Dural) celebrates his 30th anniversary in the business with the hands-down best album he’s ever waxed, moving away from straight zydeco and into a vital, ultra-soulful zone of his own… Is this the r & b-based zydeco with which Dural made his bones? No. It’s something deeper and better. –The Boston Herald

Producer Steve Berlin captures Dural's natural bayou bounce but lets him wander into other territory while keeping one foot firmly in zydeco… But Dural's sound is as steeped in blues as in the joyous Louisiana soul at the heart of this outstanding, wonderfully diverse set. – Blues Revue

You can't attack a levee with a guitar, but Buckwheat Zydeco and Sonny Landreth seem to try on "When the Levee Breaks…" It's a startling and potent opening to an album that goes on to subvert all expectations… There's almost too much life on this near-bursting release, proving that thirty years into the music game, Buckwheat Zydeco is still brimming with ideas. – Rhapsody.com

Buckwheat Zydeco is a bona-fide roots music legend, and Lay Your Burden Down proves that the old dog still has a few tricks up his sleeve. Although long-time fans will revel in Zydeco's playful accordion-bashing and friendly vocals, Lay Your Burden Down is more than just another Fat Tuesday soundtrack album. Featuring a number of great vocal performances on a wide range of challenging rock, blues, and soul material, Zydeco exceeds expectations and, after thirty years in the trenches, shows that he can still surprise and educate his audience as well as entertaining them. (Four stars) – About.com