Dayum! I went out of town for a few days, and when I came back I gave this a fresh listen. Gawd, what a muddy mess! (You were right, Greg!)
It's actually for a paying project--it's gonna be a backing track to a Christmas video I'm doing for a corporate client. As such, the timing is critical--and this was too long. So I cut out the improv/solo pass (number 3, I think) and retracked all the leads to add a bit more flourish. While I was in there, I tweaked about 11 bazillion different things.
Here's my Christmas wish list for this little tune:
1) Guitars much less wet
2) Rhythm and lead more in balance (rhythms down, leads up)
3) Bottom end tighter
4) Drums punchier (kick and snare no longer buried)
5) Lower-mid mud gone (or at least greatly decreased)
How am I doing on my wish list?