On "Nobody's Empire," which opens Belle & Sebastian's ninth album, an energized Stuart Murdoch chronicles his recent bout with chronic fatigue syndrome and poses a question his fans will relate to: "If we live by books, and we live by hope, does that make us targets of gunfire?" He knows the answer -- hence the rat-tat-tat sound effect -- but after 19 years fronting a delicate indie-pop band beloved by smart, sensitive "twee" types like him, he's comfortable in society's cross hairs.
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