In the early 1970s, legendary collaborator and self-proclaimed non-musician Brian Eno famously designed a deck of 115 cards containing elliptical imperatives to spark in the user creative connections unobtainable through regular modes of work. He called his creation "Oblique Strategies." For the past six decades, artists the world over in every artistic medium have used Eno's strategy while attempting to overcome a lull in creative output.

In 2025, moody-melodramatic-mediocre yet somehow still award-winning* hobby podcasters and self-proclaimed Lightnin' Lickers Jay and Deon found themselves uninspired when contemplating the potential theme of their upcoming forty-fifth episode. Together, they decided... to default back to the alphabet. Because they have a reasonably solid grasp of the alphabet and how it works. They had previously utilized the letters A thru L, so naturally, they went with M.

Sonic contributors to the forty-fifth episode of Lightnin’ Licks Radio podcast include:  Brothers Johnson, M. M. Knapps, James Todd Smith, Tone Loc. Prince Paul, Camp Lo, Dynasty, Mary Jane Girls. Dire Straits, Uncle Tupelo, various Sesame Street characters, Crash Test Dummies. Emma Ruth Rundle, Marraiges, Drab Majesty, Ted Lucus. The bible, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, Sir Mix-a-Lot. The Rolling Stones, Mantronix, Afrika Bambaataa, Beck, De La Soul. Big Daddy Kane, Crooklyn Dodgers, Q-Tip, Masta Ace. M.F. Doom, Metal Fingers. Ducks Deluxe, Tyla Gang, The Motors, Brinsley Schwartz, Leif Garrett, Homer Simpson. The Impressions, MC 900-ft Jesus, Curtis Mayfield, Martha and the Muffins, Romeo Void, M & M. DanielLineau, Maps & Atlases, Bandeau, La Rosa Noir, Dave Matthes Band. The Music Machine, Alice Cooper, The Association, Rick Springfield, Joe Walsh, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks & Lindsay Buckingham. Joe “Beans” Espisito, Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens, The Main Ingredient, The Temptations, Seals & Croft, Stevie Wonder, Leon Ware. Alicia Keys, 21 Savage, J. Cole, and the Clockers.

Please defend the rights of (y)our neighbors. Drink Blue Chair Bay responsibly. Stay warm and keep it in your pants.

The Letter “M” mixtape: HEAR IT ON SOUNDCLOUD

[side one] 1 mudhoney - night of the hunted 2 marth & the muffins - paint by number heart 3 the main ingredient - let me prove my love to you 4 the music machine - talk talk 5 masta ace  -nineteen ninety seventy something

[side two] 1 the motors - forget about you 2 curtis mayfield - billy jack 3 marriages - skin 4 maps and atlases - vampires 5 mantronix - who is it [end]