To bad the files are gone.
Well I hope it wasn't because I said both mixes were kinda messy. I didn't mean necessarily really bad sounding, just that the sonic elements in each were kinda stepping all over each other, and a bit of focus and clarity would clean things up some.
As the first step toward a decent mix...I like where you can hear every element to some degree. They don't need to, and won't, all have center stage and be in your face...but even if it's just a distant backing instrument, there's no point in using it if it's not even heard/identifiable in the mix, somewhat, IMO.
When you have a lot of stuff going on, and it's stepping all over each other...even when you tweak all the EQ and compression and FX, if there's too much masking of individual elements, then it's either an arrangement or production issue that will not be fixed easily those tweaks...the mix is messy.
That said...some might argue that even masked tracks are providing some sort of "foundation"...that so-called "wall of sound"...
...but I just like it when I can at least hear all the elements in the mix that I spent time recording...and then from there I can go about trying to balance and process them to create the desired mix impact.
Well I hope the OP doesn't just drop out of site. I joined in for interest, otherwise what the heck would the point of the discussion and question be?
Maybe the OP went back to the drawing board and will return with something new/different...or maybe not?