First To Eleven Archives

The 50 Best Cover Songs of 2022

Posted by Staff at 9:00 am 4 Responses »

Dec 162022

Follow all our Best of 2022 coverage (along with previous year-end lists) here.

The big story in 2022 covers came from a song that’s almost 40 years old: “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” After Kate Bush’s classic had its Stranger Things moment, every week we got a half dozen new covers. It’s been six months since the show came out, and they’re still coming! This entire list could have been “Running Up That Hill” covers if we’d let it.

We didn’t, and it isn’t. The song makes one appearance, as do a number of other trendy 2022 items: Wet Leg, GAYLE, and Beabadoobee; the latest Cat Power covers project; posthumous releases (Dr. John, Levon Helm); songs that tie into coming out of pandemic isolation.

But, as always, a joy of our list is all the covers that tie into nothing, and that you won’t find anywhere else. Doom-metal Townes Van Zandt? Bluegrass Eminem? Ska Eddie Murphy? Folk Björk? Psych-rock Groucho Marx? Those are just five of the fifty killer covers on this year’s countdown. So run up that road, run up that hill, run up that building, and read on at the link below.

First to Eleven Releases Acoustic Cover of Linkin Park’s “Crawling”

Posted by Aleah Fitzwater at 10:30 am No Responses »

Nov 022022

Less than a week ago, rock cover group First to Eleven released an intimate cover of Linkin Park “Crawling.” While the intro remains true to the original with its distorted synth-like guitar, the group quickly put their own spin on the tune as the first verse set in. This version is expertly layered with acoustic guitar and cajon, a box drum that comes from Peru. The softness of these instruments is contrasted by electric bass, background synths, and lively snare.

We almost get hints of Taylor Swift in between the deep-seated angst. The lead singer’s voice is oh-so-pure in this iteration of “Crawling”.

For more great Linkin’ Park covers, be sure to crawl here.

First to Eleven Rocks Cover of New Paramore Single

Posted by Aleah Fitzwater at 9:31 am No Responses »

Oct 112022

First to Eleven is an alternative-rock cover band based out of Erie, Pennsylvania. They are known for putting interesting twists on popular tunes, from “Call Me Maybe” to “Dreams.” Their latest tackles Paramore’s new single “This Is Why,” and the funky, sassy song is in good hands with First to Eleven. Continue reading »

The Best Cover Songs of March 2022

Posted by Ray Padgett at 11:51 am No Responses »

Mar 312022

Avhath – Cool / Levitating / Don’t Start Now (Dua Lipa covers)

What’s better than one Indonesian black-metal Dua Lipa cover? Three Indonesian black-metal Dua Lipa covers! Not that you’d ever know these were Dua Lipa songs unless you were listening really closely to the lyrics (and could manage to make them out).

The Band of Heathens – El Paso City (Marty Robbins cover)

During lockdown, Band of Heathens hosted a regular livestream variety show called Good Time Supper Club. One segment, “Remote Transmissions,” featured them covering a new song every episode – over 50 in all. They’re collecting some of the best on a forthcoming album of the same name: Remote Transmissions. “Making records is always about cataloging any point in time. We wanted to celebrate the unique collaborative aspect of the show,” guitarist Ed Jurdi told American Songwriter. “What better way to document the last year than with these songs?” First up is this take on a Marty Robbins country classic. Continue reading »