Thanks for posting Aaron!  I felt you captured a fitting tone with the acoustic rhythm.  It complimented the song well.  The advice given above is sound so I don't have much to add.  But, I did hear a "bong?" at about 2:49 that seemed out of place and maybe even a mistake?

My apologies if I've offended anyone with my analysis of the OP's mix. When I post a mix here, I don't want to get smoke blown up my a** about how great the song is, I want to know what I can do to improve the sound. I took that approach in my comments. I hope it was useful for the OP.
Best,
--Tom

TomHelvey
When I post a mix here, I don't want to get smoke blown up my a** about how great the song is, I want to know what I can do to improve the sound.

I agree... And I, for one, was not offended. If anything, I was disappointed in myself and the fact that it shown up my lack of skills...

A good song, nicely performed. To be honest, my ear is not so trained to fully notice those things pointed out by some of the more experienced here. I defer to their judgment on that.

The vocal, although a good performance, seems a little to high (level) in respect to the rest of the track. JMO.

I listened and thought it was nice.
 
I did notice that the S's and T's kinda 5K range seemed consistently loud and compressed. It sounded like you boosted the highs before the compressor then compressed pretty hard. Maybe? something like that. It's an interesting effect but not natural.
 
Maybe I'm all wrong. Maybe it's just a bunch of exciter? Not sure.

TomHelvey
My apologies if I've offended anyone with my analysis of the OP's mix. When I post a mix here, I don't want to get smoke blown up my a** about how great the song is, I want to know what I can do to improve the sound. I took that approach in my comments. I hope it was useful for the OP.
Best,
--Tom

Not at all offended by your review, I'm looking for honesty and constructive feedback, and that's what you did, so I thank you!

gswitz
I listened and thought it was nice.
 
I did notice that the S's and T's kinda 5K range seemed consistently loud and compressed. It sounded like you boosted the highs before the compressor then compressed pretty hard. Maybe? something like that. It's an interesting effect but not natural.
 
Maybe I'm all wrong. Maybe it's just a bunch of exciter? Not sure.

Yeah, I'm trying to open up the mix and make it more bright by upping the highs. If a compressor and an EQ is on a single track, for example let's say the vocals, doesn't the signal hit the compressor and the EQ at the same time? How do I control the order in which the signal hits certain processors/plugins on a single track?

Very pretty song. The vocal is muddy. I would try to brighten that up a bit.
 
As far as arrangement, and I mean this in the nicest way, it's too long. I get INTRO VERSE VERSE CHORUS VERSE VERSE BRIDGE CHORUS INSTRUMENTAL CHORUS. Don't know if these are the names you gives the sections, but I would get rid of a verse after the first chorus, and the instrumental. Make the chorus after the bridge the last part of the song. That should get it down to 3:40 or so. If you're in love with the instrumental (which is lovely, by the way), put it after the first chorus and then go straight into the bridge, chorus and out.
 
Good job!

VSTs are almost always in order, happening in sequence on a signal chain. The can be implemented in parallel but that involves using sends to buses or single VSTs that support parallel signal chains.
 
You can drag the FX up and down in the signal chain.
 
Try the EQ after the Compressor for example and see if you maybe you like that more.