Was: Groucho and Sluice - now is: Waves Renaissance Comp sucks
Thanks you guys for the further input. As it turns out, this tune was a huge learning experience for me. And what I learned is this:
THE WAVE REN COMPRESSOR SUCKS!
Why do I say this, you ask?
Because this whole time I've been bugged by how lousy my mix was of this song. I thought I was losing my mind, but every time I played it alongside something else I've recorded lately it just sounded smaller, weaker, thinner, less defined... in short it sounded like shit (despite y'all's kindhearted comments to the contrary.

).
I couldn't figure it out. Tom played a great guitar part. I thought my performance was reasonable. The drums suck, okay, but still...
So I went back and tried to figure what I did different this time around. And then I found the answer: this was the first tune that I used the Waves Ren Comp exclusively, for reasons I won't get into here.
Anyway, that was the only difference in my usual recording chain. So I went back tonight and remixed, but using the compressor I ususally use (the one in Cool Edit, which is a vastly underrated compressor I think) and TA DA... back to normal.
I just played my initial mix (using the CE Comp) alongside the old mix (using the Waves Comp) and with very little else done differently, the Waves mix sounds like ASS.
So I'm never using that piece of crap again, and neither should you.
I'm telling you, if you've been having trouble with harsh, small-sounding mixes, take my advice and check your chain for
the Renaissance Compressor.
"Warmth." "Color". "Fatness" - yeah right.
Just a little public service message.
Chris