Overall great batch! The implementation of the title was varied between making total sense to seeming shoehorned but I tried to not let that detract too much from my overall opinion of the song.
Berkeley Social Scene - This satisfies the non-optional challenge, a story of the sort I don't care to dwell on though I have read a lotta gritty stuff, brrr. I found this chorus catchy in that it popped back into my head at least once. I didn't quite care for the vocal delivery on this piece however, though everything sounds good, the instruments and mix etc.
Brown Word and the Big Whine - This one presented all sorts of technical challenges for me due to the bright sound I wanted, the 12 string being eternally temperamental and an eater of finger tips (somebody needs more practice...). The story is one of those weird ones you can't make up. Well, I mean you can. I've read a lotta true crime in my day and studied criminology whenever possible as an undergraduate, and I will tell you, like the Cavedweller lyric points out, murder is rather banal, the stories are WEIRD. They don't always make sense. People act weird in the moment and 20 years later after cracking forever. I can't explain. But when I get outta this hole I mean to investigate.
Carlo Bruno Jr. - This is super creepy, and I appreciate that. People live all sorts of ways, why not be enamored of someone who keeps a creepy robe hanging around. This is also one of my favorites. I like your voice, the guitars are aggressive and sound great. This hits the narrative part of the non-optional challenge, I'm compelled, I gotta find out what happens next.
Cavedwellers - This is pretty. The entire sound is full and mature, does that make sense? The acoustic guitars really sound clean and bright, I'm taking notes

I like the lyrics, especially the couplet "is your playlist crimey, is your conscience grimey".
Cybronica - This is terrifying and beautiful, mainly the many voices that fold in and out create as sense of space being suddenly filled with movement. I am certain this will get dinged due to bias but I'm all in favor of this performance.
Eric Novak - I think there is something musically complex taking place in the verse but perhaps not nailing it down entirely. The mix is good, the instrumentation is pleasant together but clashes discordantly in places.
The Friends - Lyrically speaking, a break from the pack regarding the sense of what defines "murder". Sounds great. Nice lyrical rhythm through verse and bridge. Good use of dynamics switching gears through the tune. The ending is the perfect touch.
Glennny - How many tunes deliver the anthemic use of the term "murder suicide"? Bravo on the deceptively friendly-sounding transgression! Beautiful guitars, ambitious melodies, again, so sweetly sung the aforementioned act in the breakdown

Oof, that mention of the last moment is pretty profound. Nicely done!
Jellyfish d'Amour (and the Banjotron 5000) - This was a standout to me lyrically speaking, this tells a compelling story, and the whole time you just want to say... (you get it, I love the suspense). The vocals are particularly suited to this story and go perfectly with the spare instrumentation. I can practically see the setting before me. One of my favorites.
Ken Mahru - Compelling story, very pretty music and vocals. I love the subtle instrumentation. Well rendered narrative of a murder, this hits the mark!
Le Tits Now - Musically interesting with lots of texture, well sung story. Mood shift from intense and tight to expansive and airy and back. Lyrically nails the mark, painting a vivid set up to a twist.
Lean Mean Groove Machine - This has a lot of promise, based on past work I've heard of yours and the ambitious direction this was taking.
Lucky Witch & the Righteous Ghost - Strong delivery, love the who ha part. The asking of "who buried me in the garden" rhythmically is creepy to me, reminsicent of the Twilight Zone episode "Night Call", brrrr. Great work!
Max Bombast - This is about my fave, I love the bumpin' rhythm, the vocal delivery nails it. This sticks the landing as they say. Sick breakdowns score huge points with Mel. The story is a unique take and has a twist. Baller tune.
Micah Sommersmith - Strong vocal delivery, this is really pretty. Great take on the non-optional challenge.
Sober - Really pretty instrumentation, clean, impeccably captured and your voice is dang near perfect. The very definition of a narrative about a murder. This was among the top 3 for me.
WreckdoM - We wanted something dark and brooding but I also wanted to put some structure into it to carry it with some weight. Working on this took me to the dark places. I started going out at night and waking up really tired. With mud at the foot of my bed. I dunno, I think it's just a phase. If I had it all to do over again, maybe I wouldn't double Geoff's vox. I love that sound and King Colon usually talks me out of it, rightly so but he wasn't around a lot this time to keep me from getting out there with it. There was something I loved in that guitar tone I landed on and I needed to bathe in it for awhile after all the falderal at the motel hence the extended coda.