Help with final mix

[poboo]

Post an example. Then we can try to help.

[johnnymix]

Because of my living situation, I have to record direct usually via a pod2 and loops for drums and percussion. Although I can mix well with Reverb and Delay to get "perspective" on instrument placement, my final mixes always seem to "up-front" or have too much "presence" vs. comercially produced products which seem to have the same level of output as mine, but sit in the "back-seat" sort of speak. People have thrown out terms such as "reverb-wash" and the such, but I think a lot of it has to do with the missing relationship of recording through "air" and having the presence of the the room. Can anyone explain this to me (and reverb wash) and have any tips that can help me overcome this? Thank you.