the problem i have is knowing that if i start with one element, i'll treat the others according to how i first preceived the sounds to be of the first element i messed with.
i do what i call a "faders up" listen.
i'll take one pass at blending what's coming off "tape", maybe two.
then i just sit and listen to it go by a few time. i don't do all faders at -10 or 0, i actually try to get a VERY fast rough blend and i call that "faders up".
then i get to work based on my ideas of the song.
the problem is, i know good and well that i'd treat the drums or guitars or whatever, totally different depending on what i choose to start with.
i might make the drums very tight and "polished" sounding if i start with them. but had i started with the guitars i might have gone with a slight distortion and maybe a darker more open drum sound.
i want the song to really shine through and be "larger then life" on it's own. the mix has to create that illusion, so i'm constantly trying to find the best way to approach it.
i often times push all the faders down pull some patches and start over.
as for EQ and compression......i stop at nothing to get what i want.