Spawned in 2008, Sweethead features Van Leeuwen and singer Serrina Sims. Together, they make what is supposed to be the core of a four-person band. The group has been touring since arriving on the scene and has built up to this moment: the release of its self-titled debut. The results … are incredibly disappointing.

Rather than strive into new territory while keeping some familiarity of its past projects, Sweethead actively borrows from everywhere, sounding much more like those two aforementioned groups. If you listen to Sims’ vocals for even just 10 seconds, Alison Mosshart will probably be one of the first names that spring into your head. It’s not to say that they’re remotely in the same league. While Mosshart can move from seductive to dangerous to furious over the course of several tracks, Sims is stuck half-moaning/half-angrily singing over every number. The music itself is comprised of a combo between Them Crooked Vultures and QOTSA (“Sinkhole International” is the worst offender for this). It doesn’t leave much sense of originality or even effort to move away from covered ground.

So what else is wrong? It can pretty much be summed up in five words: There are no strong hooks. From beginning to end, not one song on this album creates a melody catchy enough to sustain it. The closest the record comes to success is on “Amazing Vanishing Conquest”, which has a lighter tone than the rest of the non-acoustic tracks, and on “Turned Our Backs”. Neither of them is good enough to hear more than once, though.

Unfortunately, the worst part of Sweethead comes from what should have been the best: the guitar. Van Leeuwen is the founder of the group, but he doesn’t have enough riffs in the bag to make it through three minutes, never mind the whole album. Every attempt at soloing is so drowned out in distortion that it’s nearly impossible to tell what’s being played. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if the solos in “The Sting” and “P.I.G.” were the same, as they use similar sets of effects that blur out any semblance of specific notes. More often than not, the guitar is simply a non-presence, a tough notion for a band driven by the six-string instrument.

If there’s anything good about Sweethead, it’s drummer Norm Block (from ’90s-goth, noise-rock band Plexi). He uses every song as an opportunity to expand the percussion in a different direction. “The Sting” kicks off with a combo of clapping hands and similar-sounding drums. “Turned Our Backs” has a rolling, thunderous beat that creates a massive feeling of energy, and “Amazing Vanishing Conquest” throws in a semi-military drum roll to ease the track into a slower gear. All in all, Block’s the best part of this album and keeps it from being a total wreck.

Sweethead‘s failure mainly comes from one simple problem: The songs aren’t there. Without the tunes, you’ve got nothing. At this point, it seems like the best course of action the band can take is to see how the others have done it. Use your past sound to push forward into new territory. ‘Cause as it stands, the only territory Sweethead can claim is the mud it’s stuck in.

Sweethead, which takes its name from a David Bowie b-side (why didn’t I/you/they think of that?), is releasing its eponymous debut full-length May 11th on The End Records.

The band will be surrounding the album with a round of (relatively) local shows, including gigs at Silverlake, California’s Spaceland every Monday in May. The first night, May 3rd, was sponsored by Buddyhead, while the last night, May 24th, is being billed as a “family night” — meaning Sweethead will be joined by Mini Mansions (fronted by QotSA bassist Michael Shuman), former QotSA member Alain Johannes, and a “very special guest.” Uh, so it’s pretty clear which of the four Mondays should hold the highest priority. Not that openers Ashes Divide, Slang Chickens, Earthlings? and Red Fang won’t be cool.

The rest of the U.S. mini-tour includes dates in Long Beach, San Diego, and Las Vegas. Sweethead will also be traveling to Europe for a good week’s worth of shows in June, hitting the Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park festivals before closing the tour June 11th at Download Festival. Van Leeuwen is likely to head back to Germany soon after, because that other band of his has some tour dates in August.

Check out the following video of the track “Traumatized and Dumb”, featuring footage of last year’s European tour with Them Crooked Vultures and Eagles of Death Metal. Full tour dates below the video; tickets are available on Ticketmaster.

Sweethead 2010 Tour Dates:
05/03 – Silverlake, CA @ Spaceland
05/10 – Silverlake, CA @ Spaceland
05/17 – Silverlake, CA @ Spaceland
05/20 – Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock/Wasted Space
05/21 – Long Beach, CA @ Alex’s Bar
05/24 – Silverlake, CA @ Spaceland
05/25 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
06/04 – Nürnberg, DE @ Rock Im Park Festival
06/05 – Berlin, DE @ White Trash
06/06 – Nürburg, DE @ Rock Am Ring Festival
06/07 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotov
06/08 – Utrecht, NL @ Helling
06/09 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
06/10 – London, UK @ 100 Club
06/11 – Leicestershire, UK @ Download Festival

The outfit will look to make its debut on July 13th with the release of The Great Disruptors, a five-track EP which features the same cover The Kinks’ “Tired of Waiting For You” that is currently available as a free download via sweethead.net.

A full-length LP is said to be in the works for sometime this summer, aka following the band’s on going stint in support of Snow Patrol.

The Great Disruptors EP Tracklist:
01. The Great Disruptors
02. Hardspun
03. Arcane Arcade
04. Traumatized And Dumb
05. Tired of Waiting For You

Sweetwater 2009 Tour Dates:
05/28 – Winterthur, CH @ Eishalle *
05/30 – Dusseldorf, DE @ Philipshalle *
05/31 – Stuttgart, DE @ Longhorn *
06/02 – Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmatre *
06/03 – London, UK @ Water Rats
06/06 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House ^
07/01 – W. Hollywood, CA @ Viper Room #

* = w/ Snow Patrol
^ = w/ Eagles of Death Metal
# = Love & Rockets tribute album release party