New rock/prog song - Too Near To See

sounds a bit crossed between happy the man and early genesis....
 
i really dig this kind of stuff...
 
the drums seem a bit stiff, but i like the arrangements and choice of beats and fills...
the drums seem to be playing straight time with no swing,
and this REALLY needs the swing elements to open it up...
 
great solo section, lots of fun!
 

Nice mix Steve!. That's some serious guitar and bass work on this, well done! 
 
Regards,
Dan
 

I dig it.  I like the old school prog as much as the newer stuff.
 

stevec
 
loves me some prog.      I don't listen to much newer stuff though, I'll have to do that...
 

Great track Steve, I'd love to try my hand at something tricksy like this  On the basis of this I think you'd enjoy Big Big Train (if you haven't heard them already).

James - thanks!  Yeah, I do have fun doing this type of music, and having grown up on 70s prog it's just in my DNA. But I will most certainly look up Big Big Train (never heard of them!) 'cause new good stuff is well, good.
 
Tom - why, thank you!   It was fun to do, and don't tell anyone but yeah, some of it was made up as I went along.  Controlled improvisation.      The end section was my Kansas influenced mini-piece and was fun! For the snare, I probably tweaked the level + tone about twenty times and in the end decided to keep it in check. Good spot!
 

Wow! This is great! I love the Rush-like bass line and other parts. Kind of like Kansas meets Rush.

What a cool song and arrangement! Love the bass big time! Clear, fast and nice parts. 
Drums are a bit dry and cymbals and toms could come up. 
All sounds really good. 

Loved all the layers, great bass lines. and with your normal style of prog, I knew exactly where you were going with the arrangement (Not). Sounded all good through my cans. :) 

nice job, Steve!  I always love me some prog!  some very reminiscent shades of Yes/Howe in there!
 
very cool!

Nice

Very good. Happy melodies, I like. Great instrument and voice work. To me it sounded almost fusion when the guitar got wild.

Russ - thanks!  My "normal style of prog" huh...  well, I will certainly take that as a compliment!  
 
Jesse - thank you!   The bass is just me, played on a cheap Sam Ash special I bought years ago livened up with a CA-X FX Chain.  The intro is four tracks of mic'd acoustic guitar in four different ranges/positions.  The leads were probably my favorite part to play though.  
 
Reece - thanks!  Always appreciate a Howe reference!  The intro was my poor man's attempt at creating a bit of that acoustic/vachalia thing he used to do.      And the electric parts, yeah, they're mostly clean-ish which I guess was also a sub-conscious nod in that direction.
 
Tom - thanks!   Now I'm going to have to look up The Samples.  
 
Furry one - thanks!   Glad you liked it!
 
Tony - thank you!    Once again I appreciate the Howe/Yes references (my favorites growing up) and am glad you liked the mix too.
 
Antti - thanks!   Yes, this was definitely meant to be a major key "happy" song even with the prog-ish bits so I'm glad that comes across.  
 
Allan - thanks!  I'm happy to know things are working.   I'll have to go back and listen for those drum hits, though it's possible the "drummer" was just laying back a bit.  Yeah, that's the ticket.        I'm not sure what "Castles of Sand" is though?         (PS... love the avatar).
 
 
Almost forgot...   second mix is up, with some minor drum tweaks and a bit more reverb as per comments above.  Oh, and I've posted the lyrics in the OP as requested by Daryl.   Just don't ask for the hidden meaning. 
 
 
 

Yep,,, still diggin it ... I had to come back and I stand by the Strawbs sound! Ghosts perhaps? it's been so long since I've listened to those old cassettes. This time I'm also getting a little Zappa as well (Orange county lumber truck?)
Great stuff lovin it!
 

Cian - thanks!  Some of it definitely falls into "make it up as a I go along" territory, including some of the syncopated stuff.  I go with whatever seems to work.   And no worries about the words - I certainly don't consider myself a lyricist! 
 
James - thanks for checking in again!  I appreciate it.  I'm going to have to catch up on some Strawbs. 
 
Lynn - thanks!   I would not consider vocals my strong suit at all, so I appreciate the comment.   As far as songwriting goes...  Nah, I'm just happy to be in the company of the talent on this forum, yourself included!   
 

Hey Steve , That was Great  Man
Lots of Brilliant Musical Ideas throughout ...
I'm happy I came over here and listened to your song ...
 
thank you for posting it
 
Kenny