Hmmmm...
I admit, I don't have too much to say, but I do have a few things.
I agree with something somebody already said, and that is, You Don't Need That Much Bass. You really don't. Leave heavy EQ-ing to the listener. If somebody complains that there's not enough bass in the mix, then clearly they don't deserve to listen to well-produced music. If they say something about Mids, listen. Highs, you DEFINATELY gotta listen to their opinions. Too much, too little of anything is BAD BAD BAD!
Also, EQ is a VERY fragile bussiness. You want to EQ something just right, to avoid clipping. I've always noticed, whenever I import a professionally-mixed piece of music into Cubase, if I TOUCH anything at all with EQ, things start clipping and sounding TERRIBLE.
I like to put room reverb and a quick slap-back delay on my tracks to add life. Also, for pads (as somebody else mentioned), I double the tracks and put chorus on the Right or Left. I alternate between songs.
Also, when EQ-ing a straigh Bass Guitar, don't touch anything in the bass range. I only EQ the highs and RARELY Mids. This gives clarity to the notes being played. But watch out. Not too much now.
Ok, so that was more than just a little.

Basically, everything you do can't be in excess, unless you want that sound.

Oh yeah, and if you want that "Modern, Magical, Popular Sound," get Logic, and use their presets. Then drop the Midrange out a little bit (JUST A LITTLE BIT). Haha, I may sound like a d**k for saying that, but it's true, hahaha.

My friend got a Mac and got Logic Express for it, and tried REALLY hard to get the sound of Metallica's earlier records, and just couldn't do it. Then he loaded in one preset, and all was done for him! It was nuts, I was witness to it. It sounded punchy, ballsy, rich, and modern. Also don't forget panning! So much sound in real life is panned. Just take some moments and close your eyes while outside, and take in all the panning and where sound is coming from, and apply that to music. You'll LOVE the results.
That is all. I'm going to school for becoming a producer. There. THAT is all.
