Alexander Billet
@ubupamplemousse.bsky.social
I write about music and arts, cities, and radical memory. Author, "Shake the City" from 1968 Press. Substack: alexanderbillet.com Insta: instagram.com/ubupamplemousse/
Long(ish) essay for the website of the @histmat.bsky.social journal: Spotify’s fuckery, how the culture industry is implicated in the war machine, and “the specter of music that could be free.” Pretty proud of this one.
Every Song’s a War Song: Spotify and the Military Music Industrial Complex - Historical Materialism
In the 1890s, the idea of a “record industry” was a novel concept. The phonograph had only been invented in 1877, its close cousin the gramophone patented and made available for purchase little more t...
www.historicalmaterialism.org
January 10, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Long(ish) essay for the website of the @histmat.bsky.social journal: Spotify’s fuckery, how the culture industry is implicated in the war machine, and “the specter of music that could be free.” Pretty proud of this one.
One year ago. Today’s headlines report many Angelenos (particularly on the east side) still unable to return home or rebuild. The land is too toxic, soaked with lead and asbestos. Another instance where longing for “everything to return to normal” feels like being mocked by our own psyches.
How to Charge Your Phone in a Disaster
A small journal during a big fire.
alexanderbillet.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:48 PM
One year ago. Today’s headlines report many Angelenos (particularly on the east side) still unable to return home or rebuild. The land is too toxic, soaked with lead and asbestos. Another instance where longing for “everything to return to normal” feels like being mocked by our own psyches.
I see Greenland is back in the news...
An Arrival at Pituffik
The mimic visits Greenland.
alexanderbillet.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:55 PM
I see Greenland is back in the news...
New post. Trying to bring together the events in Venezuela, the current shape of the spectacle, one of my favorite albums from the 1990s, how little has changed since its release, and the torpor of history. I’d say enjoy but that'd be ghoulish.
Quarter-Millennium Tension
A coup. Socialism of the spectacle. Trip-hop. A journal for the same old new year.
alexanderbillet.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:37 PM
New post. Trying to bring together the events in Venezuela, the current shape of the spectacle, one of my favorite albums from the 1990s, how little has changed since its release, and the torpor of history. I’d say enjoy but that'd be ghoulish.
Socialism of the spectacle...
Delcy Rodríguez strikes conciliatory tone with US after Trump warning
Venezuela’s interim leader offers to work with US after Trump threatened she could pay ‘very big price’
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Socialism of the spectacle...
Leone's birthday today.
January 4, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Leone's birthday today.
And here it is...
Can the public interest overcome the special interests and bankrupt ideologies that continue to make war and the threat of more war America’s face to the world? www.thenation.com/article/worl...
Trump and His Cronies Want a War in the Western Hemisphere
Don’t be fooled by the anti-interventionist language. The Trump administration is only too eager to use military force.
www.thenation.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:13 PM
And here it is...
Back from break. What did I miss?
January 2, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Back from break. What did I miss?
Let's fucking gooooooo...
“The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations. Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously.” Zohran Mamdani gave his first public speech as mayor of New York City, after a public inauguration on Thursday that drew tens of thousands of people.
Mamdani Vows to Govern ‘Audaciously’ and Protect New York’s Vulnerable
Zohran Mamdani gave his first public speech as mayor of New York City, after a public inauguration that drew tens of thousands of people.
nyti.ms
January 2, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Let's fucking gooooooo...
Haven't been on socials lately for many reasons: travel, applying to PhD programs, exciting personal news, the holidays… and, honestly, the need for a much-earned break.
I'll more consistent in the coming year. In the meantime, here’s James Ensor’s The Bad Doctors (1892).
I'll more consistent in the coming year. In the meantime, here’s James Ensor’s The Bad Doctors (1892).
December 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Haven't been on socials lately for many reasons: travel, applying to PhD programs, exciting personal news, the holidays… and, honestly, the need for a much-earned break.
I'll more consistent in the coming year. In the meantime, here’s James Ensor’s The Bad Doctors (1892).
I'll more consistent in the coming year. In the meantime, here’s James Ensor’s The Bad Doctors (1892).
Reposted by Alexander Billet
"Krukowski zooms in on everyday life to such a minute degree that we can almost separate the various shapes and sounds that make it up." @ubupamplemousse.bsky.social on Damon Krukowski’s “Why Sound Matters.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/sound-epistemology/
November 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"Krukowski zooms in on everyday life to such a minute degree that we can almost separate the various shapes and sounds that make it up." @ubupamplemousse.bsky.social on Damon Krukowski’s “Why Sound Matters.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/sound-epistemology/
My review of Damon Krukowski's excellent book Why Sound Matters is up at @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social.
Sound Epistemology | Los Angeles Review of Books
Alexander Billet listens to Damon Krukowski’s “Why Sound Matters.”
lareviewofbooks.org
November 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
My review of Damon Krukowski's excellent book Why Sound Matters is up at @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social.
Last night I gave a short presentation at DSA-LA Hollywood Labor's showing of Dawn of the Dead. Some remarks on zombies, late capitalism, early capitalism, and, of course, malls.
Why Do They Come Here?
The political imaginary of the (almost) (un)dead.
alexanderbillet.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Last night I gave a short presentation at DSA-LA Hollywood Labor's showing of Dawn of the Dead. Some remarks on zombies, late capitalism, early capitalism, and, of course, malls.
Two, three, many Kent States...
Revealed: Pentagon orders states’ national guards to form ‘quick reaction forces’ for ‘crowd control’
Pentagon memo details plan to train over 20,000 national guard members across the US to carry out Trump’s order on subduing civil unrest
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Two, three, many Kent States...
Shameless plug for my presentation at the upcoming @histmat.bsky.social conference in London. Talking art, (post?)modernism, and a useful methodology for radicals.
October 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Shameless plug for my presentation at the upcoming @histmat.bsky.social conference in London. Talking art, (post?)modernism, and a useful methodology for radicals.
They’ve arrested a suspect for starting the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, and I’m not sure it’s anything other than completely futile. (Also includes a bit of a preview for an upcoming piece on the wildfires in Salvage.)
Forces of Nature
No closure in the age of disaster nationalism.
alexanderbillet.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:19 PM
They’ve arrested a suspect for starting the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, and I’m not sure it’s anything other than completely futile. (Also includes a bit of a preview for an upcoming piece on the wildfires in Salvage.)
My own personal memory of Jane Goodall: she spoke at the commencement for the graduating class ahead of me at university. My class got Billy Joel, who, as he duly reminded us, didn’t graduate high school. If I had an academic inferiority complex well before, this didn’t help. RIP
October 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
My own personal memory of Jane Goodall: she spoke at the commencement for the graduating class ahead of me at university. My class got Billy Joel, who, as he duly reminded us, didn’t graduate high school. If I had an academic inferiority complex well before, this didn’t help. RIP
This poem by Assata Shakur has been getting shared round a lot since her passing a few days ago. For good reason. It's quite lovely. #RIP
September 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This poem by Assata Shakur has been getting shared round a lot since her passing a few days ago. For good reason. It's quite lovely. #RIP
With Eric Adams out of the race, I'm resharing the piece I wrote about Mamdani and the forces that must be organized for “socialist governance” to be successful. Paywall removed, but if you want to subscribe and chuck me a few monthly dollars, I won’t argue.
New Maps
Zohran Mamdani, between “sewer socialism” and the right to the city.
alexanderbillet.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:49 PM
With Eric Adams out of the race, I'm resharing the piece I wrote about Mamdani and the forces that must be organized for “socialist governance” to be successful. Paywall removed, but if you want to subscribe and chuck me a few monthly dollars, I won’t argue.
What I wrote about Kneecap for Locust Review as the charges against Mo Chara -- now dismissed, just this morning -- were brought.
#Kneecap #Tiocfaidhárlá #rap
#Kneecap #Tiocfaidhárlá #rap
Who's Afraid of Kneecap? — Locust Review
Anyone with enough sense can see how stupid the hue and cry over Kneecap is. But then, we live in a particularly myopic age, aggressively forgetful and wantonly incurious. One prone to performative pe...
www.locustreview.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:57 PM
What I wrote about Kneecap for Locust Review as the charges against Mo Chara -- now dismissed, just this morning -- were brought.
#Kneecap #Tiocfaidhárlá #rap
#Kneecap #Tiocfaidhárlá #rap
Fucking yes.
Kneecap's Mo Chara has beaten the UK's trumped up terror charges against him on a technicality.
But how he beat them is not what will be remembered. What will be remembered is that he's stood with the people of Palestine before Britain could muster the will.
But how he beat them is not what will be remembered. What will be remembered is that he's stood with the people of Palestine before Britain could muster the will.
September 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Fucking yes.
“It is only for those without hope that hope is given.”
― Walter Benjamin, who committed suicide 85 years ago today.
#WalterBenjamin #criticaltheory
― Walter Benjamin, who committed suicide 85 years ago today.
#WalterBenjamin #criticaltheory
September 26, 2025 at 4:12 PM
“It is only for those without hope that hope is given.”
― Walter Benjamin, who committed suicide 85 years ago today.
#WalterBenjamin #criticaltheory
― Walter Benjamin, who committed suicide 85 years ago today.
#WalterBenjamin #criticaltheory
It's been a year since Fredric Jameson died. This is what I wrote after hearing the news. I'd say it's held up well.
#CriticalTheory #literaturesky
#CriticalTheory #literaturesky
History is What Hurts
Fredric Jameson is dead. From now on, all vibes are bad.
alexanderbillet.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
It's been a year since Fredric Jameson died. This is what I wrote after hearing the news. I'd say it's held up well.
#CriticalTheory #literaturesky
#CriticalTheory #literaturesky