The Jennifer Nettles Band has earned every bit of its success and respect in the southeastern music scene. Few local bands have the musical polish, diverse catalog and devoted following of the Jennifer Nettles Band.

While dodging the interested eyes of record labels, the band has come all the way from Thursday night gigs at the 40 Watt Club in Athens under its former name, Soul Miner's Daughter, to packing the Variety Playhouse on its own.

Jennifer and the guys will deliver two sets as part of their tour in support of their new release tonight at Eddie's Attic.

On its latest album, aptly entitled "Rewind," JNB revisits the Soul Miner's days with 13 old favorites. While the songs on the new album were all written during the days of Soul Miner's Daughter, they still make frequent appearances on JNB live setlists. The decision to re-record the songs was apparently in response to the band's wide popularity among long-time fans as well as a desire to bring those tunes into the band's present phase of musical development.

In a recent press release, Nettles said she "decided to re-record them as both a 'thank you' for all of our fans that have been with us throughout the years and as an opportunity for all of our new fans to hear our musical evolution."

Despite what was certainly a genuine gesture, the songs on the compilation lack the framework to sustain the kind of energy JNB has managed to create since the Soul Miner's days. The entire album ends up sounding a bit rushed compared to recent JNB work, with frequent rhythmic flaws, an elusive groove pocket and instrumental solos that lack both direction and inspiration.

The album also falls short of the signature stylistic range found in recent JNB work.

The track "The Man They Call Diablo" features a rickety percussion jam that flops into an anti-climactic bridge via a clumsy ritard. If it weren't for the repetition of such groove violations on the rest of the album, one might say the raw feel of the song was meant to complement its folksy, Cajun flavor. But uncomfortable moments like the stilted 6/8 intro to "Good for You" suggest otherwise.

Most of the tracks on "Rewind" don't miss the supporting tenor of Soul Miner co-singer Cory Jones, who rarely did more than give listeners a break from Nettles' often phraseless, occasionally overwhelming vocal attack.

Other general differences between the tracks on "Rewind" and the Soul Miner antecedents include the shelving of Scott Nicholson's upfront acoustic and electric guitar lines for a more prominent performance on the keys. Nicholson adds a beautiful B3 organ track to "On the Shoulders of Giants," which combines with a slide guitar texture to create an effect that's both haunting and sublime.

His organ solo on the same track is one of the album's better moments.

A highlight of "Rewind" is Nettles' a cappella vocal showcase on "Shade of the Hand of Fear," in which her gospel influence breaks loose to grip single words in a soulful vice, bending out syllables and vowels that only real pain can sing.

Another peak occurs in the Aretha Franklin-esque tune "With Me" and its full-fledged Motown piano and bass groove. Nettles' sultry vocal entrance adds a nice touch, and her light-hearted laugh at the end is downright sexy.

While "Rewind" may have its flaws in hurried production and songs that are a bit outgrown, it finds its redemption in some fresh musical patches of light that reflect JNB's recent evolution. The album gains additional momentum as it maintains the songwriting spirit of compassion and emotional intensity that has been characteristic of Nettles' music throughout her career.

"Rewind" will no doubt be received well by veteran JNB fans, but newcomers who are only familiar with Nettles' recent material have little more than a history lesson to gain.

The Jennifer Nettles Band will play two sets at Eddie's Attic tonight at 7, and 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the show are $10 and can be purchased in advance online at www.eddiesattic.com, or starting 4 p.m. at the box office today. Doors open 30 minutes before show time.