Sound Bites: Eating on Tour with Franz Ferdinand

by Alex Kapranos

The lead singer of the acclaimed, platinum-selling group Franz Ferdinand takes readers on a rock-and-roll culinary adventure around the world The extremely successful neo–New Wave band Franz Ferdinand has millions of fans around the globe, and the group’s frequent tours bring its members not only to a wide variety of places but also face to face with a wide range of food. Here, lead singer Alex Kapranos collects his humorous and insightful reflections—compiled partly from his column in the Guardian (London)—on his many international gastronomic encounters, both savory and not so savory. From the charms of a donut shop in a Polish-speaking part of Brooklyn to a decidedly less charming pair of bull’s testicles in Buenos Aires to the seductive, almost-vegetarian allure of a heavenly Singaporean buffet, Kapranos always gets the mouthwatering details just right while delivering an entertaining look at rock-and-roll life on the road.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Food, Travel, Memoir, Biography, Essays

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2006

Reviews

[Elmo Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, the rating was a bit biased, since i love, LOVE this man and the band. But, honestly, the man can really write. Transferred from a culinary column Kapranos used to write for Guardian UK while on tour with the band, the book was breaking the rules of 'going to a foreign place, taste their food, write about it'. Instead, Kapranos wrote about other aspects around the food, what his other senses feel while eating a certain food. And even his memory.
I can actually pictured everything happened in his stories reading this book. Every activities, every emotions, every ... food.

I have to say, his way of writing more or less influenced the way I write, be it be in my blog, short stories, narcissistic fan-fictions, even novels (which, of course, I had to make some alteration so it would go well in my native language).

It's a good book, funny, witty, and for some weird reasons, it made me hungry just reading it.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining but uneven collection of food commentary. The lead column is superb but not all columns live up to it - many are somewhat less than informative regarding the restaurant, and instead evoke impressions of life on the road; this may be good or bad, depending on which topic you enjoy reading about more - food or touring. On the plus side, Mr. Kapranos has a fine touch for tying together memories from his childhood/formative years and experiences on the road - those columns are the best. However, for every winning review, there are a handful of phoned in Yelp mimeographs (to be fair, the reviews are written while touring, so this is unsurprising).

[klementynka☆°○•°☆°○•° · Rating 5 out of 5]

iconic

[dziaddy (in my stary subiekt era) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ngl being british and missing indian food while away instead of the ✨english cuisine✨ is so real of him

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't be objective when it comes to Alex Kapranos.
But also - this is a wonderful essay collection.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of articles that Kapranos wrote while on tour as the lead singer for Franz Ferdinand. The articles were published in real time in the Guardian, and I heard about the book on NPR, where Kapranos was interviewed and it peaked my interest. As someone who has cooked in a real kitchen, I feel a kinship with others who have gone through the highs and lows. And that experience will forever color how I think about food, and how I eat out, as it has also done for Kapranos. Some of his articles here are really short, and might be more interesting if they were longer, more in depth. The writing is unusual and often inspired and often reads zen like (almost like a good hiku), but a few times was a little too cutsey as well. Nice quick read for anyone interested in eating around the world.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kapranos is the lead singer and guitarist of Scottish band Franz Ferdinand.

In 2005 and 2006, he was tapped by The Guardian to write a food column. This slim volume is a collection of those writings and other musings done on the road while touring. I think the longest story is a mere three pages...

Skipping all over the globe, the former chef turned rock star, shares with us foodie delights, anecdotes about his dining companions and his love of all foods fancy or not. His descriptions are evocative and funny without being overly effusive like some foodie writings.

I highly recommend checking this book out if you love food or travel writings. It's clever prose that doesn't require a great time investment due to the length of the chapters.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published here are items from Alex Kapranos' Guardian column from his time on tour in 2005. Some bits are better than others, and I feel like they're really best read two or three at a time (they're each only a page or two long), rather than reading the entire book straight through. I liked the way he describes food here, as well as the ways he relates stories about his band, or his childhood, or his time as a chef, or vignettes of the people and places he encounters during the tour. And each little story is illustrated by Andrew Knowles. It's pretty enjoyable, but not really all that memorable.

[Shui · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it turns out that Alex is a traveling foodie and therefore a man after my own heart! Little titbits in the guise of short (3-4 pages no longer) anecdotes about meals, memories and locations. I don't know why but I never imagined that it would be so well written without ever being over-clever (hence irritating). AK travels the world with the band but even if you aren't a Franz Ferdinand fan as long as you are a foodie then this book will appeal to the adventurous palate. Lord knows I am as interested now to eat crab in Australia as I am to head off to darkest South Shields for a saveloy dip!

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on a bargain not having any idea who Alex Kapranos was or that Franz Ferdinand is, in fact, a band. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book a lot. Sound Bites made my mouth water in many parts and made me wince in disgust at others. I liked that Kapranos wrote about the most bizarre of food and places I had to look up many words on google to keep up. I found myself learning quite a number of interesting things apart from what he had already shared. I liked the way he described things. I guess because he's a songwriter, his book writing style is very melodious too. And the rhythm is different and fun. It was a very flavorful read, I've just made myself very hungry...

[Ignacia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó la forma de escribir de Kapranos, no me lo imaginaba de esa forma. Sus aventuras por el mundo junto a su grupo, Franz Ferdinand fueron muy entretenidas.
Debería trabajar permanentemente en un periódico recomendando sitios donde comer.
Eso si, éste hombre es demasiado carnívoro. En más de un capítulo leí a la velocidad de la luz sólo por que quería pasar rápido las partes donde se vuelve tan detallista y explica de un modo que solo un autentico amante de la carne puede hacer. No me interesaba para nada saber cuanto tiempo hay que cocer tales huesos para que de una salsa. Según el es exquisita, yo lo dudo mucho.
Espero leer algo más de Kapranos <3

[Angela Maher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a little bit of insight into touring with Franz Ferdinand, but you certainly don't need to be a fan of the band to enjoy the book, just a fan of food and new experiences. Descriptions of meals at exclusive restaurants are interspersed with childhood food memories, all the little stories involving something special, new or interesting. His genuine enthusiasm for trying new foods is umistakeable, but not overbearing, and I like the honesty in what experiences he did not particularly like. If you like food, you will like this book.

[will · Rating 5 out of 5]

a read this in one day. it's really great and has awesome funny little illustrations courtesy of franz ferdinand's touring keyboard player or something. no need to be a fan of the band to like this, but if you are curious about what touring life is like this is really good stuff. anyone who likes good travel writing should enjoy this, it's as much about where he is eating (and who with) as it is about the actual food.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short enjoyable read. It's nice reading books about something you know a little bit about (in this case, food) and finding that the opinions of the author seem to match with yours. Alex Kapranos has a nice conversational style of writing and he often creates paragraph-long descriptions of food utilizing some kind of metaphor. They don't always work but they keep things interesting.

[Caleb Guillotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combining two of my loves, music and food , gives y=this book a head start, but it is Kapranos's easy, un-selfimportant journalistic approach to a travel/food diary that makes this such an easy read. Genuinely disappointed when it was over.

[Natalya G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immensely enjoyed Alex's writing style and observations. This book tells you about different kitchens and cultures through the personal experience of a Scotsman, who knows what he is talking about after working at various food venues. You'll find out interesting facts not only about food but people and lobsters :)

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to love it, but I just didn’t. Quick read, column “format” makes for a great book to pick up and put down.

[Liam Claffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Franz, love this book, an easy, funny read and Alex's passion for food, music and the places he's visited is evident throughout.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable collection of short essays about eating around the world, sprinkled with observations about touring.

[Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good if you're obsessed with Franz Ferdinand like I am, but otherwise not really worth a read. I enjoyed it though.

[Cecilebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quel délice que de suivre Alex Kapranos de Franz Ferdinand découvrant les subtilités de son palais ! En tournée avec son groupe et sur une proposition de The Guardian, le chanteur et guitariste – ancien chef ! – a tenu durant deux ans et demi un journal contant ses aventures (et mésaventures) culinaires sur les routes, publiées sur le site du quotidien anglais. Le livre réunit ces 51 textes, nourris de détails et débordants d’humour, écrits avec une simplicité réjouissante où l’on découvre un passionné de cuisine et aux détours des pages, de belles confessions autobiographiques. Un format inspiré de l’écriture blog qui nous fait ici renouer avec un genre oublié et pourtant passionnant : le récit de tournée dans la plus pure tradition du gonzo journalisme.

[matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

within the first 5 pages, it becomes painfully obvious that Kapranos can't write. He uses awkward tenses, goes off on tangential points that last the entire "chapter" and basically lacks the personality that makes reading about food/eating even a little bit interesting.
it's a shame too because Kapranos has always come across as such a ham (pun intended) that you'd hope his writing would be just as welcoming as his persona. Having interviewed him once, I can attest to a certain swarmy charm about him that does NOT make it to the page. To be honest, I found his assessments of the characters he met throughout to be downright insulting and condescending.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I'd heard of Franz Ferdinand I'd never heard their music and chose the book by its subject matter, food.
Alex Kapranos comes across a an intelligent and perceptive writer. With his background as a chef of some years he is able to give a knowledgable evaluation of the foods of the many countries visited on tour.
I note some have commented negatively on the shortness of the chapters apparently not aware that the book title is Sound Bites.
I must say I would welcome a expanded version of the book that is not constrained by a tour schedule nor by column space in a newspaper.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a book that inspired you, or life changing kinda book. this book has very short chapters, great book to carry around with you in your bag, just in case you get bored in the train, or waiting for something. it also has cute and simple illustrations as well. some chapters are a bit too short, i often thought, 'what?thats it?' a bit disapointing, because it started quite good, and it ended quite fast.

[Nicole Kuiper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why this book only has a 3 star rating. This book is a great read. You do NOT have to be a fan of the band to appreciate the stories from each of the eateries. Part of eating food is not about the quality of the item in front of you on the table but the people who surround you while you partake in the dining experience. This is a great book to skip around and pick up and read again. 

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Kapranos is not only the lead singer for the band Franz Ferdinand, but a gifted essayist. Here he writes about eating and the experiences associated with it while on a world tour. It's a fantastic read and I highly reccommend it. A few more books of essays like this, and Kapranos could fashion himself into a modern EB White.

[Brooke Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun food book with an extremely different perspective. His writing style swerves from thought to thought, the next thought always being something completely unexpected. It ends with a nice touch: there's a list in the back of the book with the information on where to find all the restaurants he mentions.

[Micaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic collection of short essays from the lead singer of Franz Ferdinand. I picked this up in Heathrow Airport and I'd finished it by the time I landed in New York seven hours later. Kapranos' writing is excellent, and the characters and locales detailed in your book will transport you to exotic, enticing places.

[Laila · Rating 3 out of 5]

About food, so I liked it. The author wrote in a sort of way that I enjoyed initially and was irritated by halfway through. Although I did read it in one sitting so maybe i should have taken a break from it. Regardless, it's always fun to read about great meals from someone who clearly loves food.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO good! If I weren't already a Franz Ferdinand fan, I'd give them a chance solely based on Kapranos's intelligence, humor, and humility. His writing is brilliant - beautiful and evocative. I felt like I was seeing what he and the band were seeing and eating what they were eating. I'm so glad I was finally able to get my hands on this one and read it!