I really need help getting cleaner mix downs. Here are two example tracks I have made in the past week:

(this one may be a bad example since I was going for as much distortion as possible)
http://peregrin.jmu.edu/~watkindj/w...join_in_1_3.mp3

http://peregrin.jmu.edu/~watkindj/v...ot_so_italo.mp3

The mix sounds decent until everything starts playing at once. I try to keep all of my levels below (below -8 db) and adjust them as needed throughout the mix. I found a general guideline of frequencies to cut for certain instruments a while ago that I have been using, but I cannot seem to get things such as pads and synth lead bits to sit well with my percussion and bass.

While this doesn't not excuse poor technique, my speakers have been on the fritz for a very long time, but I still feel that my mixes should at least sound decent them.