I pretty much always hate mixes that I slave over for more than a few hours. The band always comes in with the roughs and says "man, that rocked the other day - what happened?". I got my head stuck up my ass, that's what happened.
The slipperman method is working for me (always has): solo every sound, set EQs for sources of power, then just push the faders up until it's happening. Automate the vocal if necessary. Since my EQs are set for all the channels, if I need more guts in the bass, I just twist the knob and I've got it.
~id