Annie Gallup's writing is unabashedly imaginative and richly sensual. She is a teller of short, elaborate tales -- song-length works of fiction that sparkle with the complexity and polish of poetry; tightly packed lyrical strands that crackle with intelligence and spry wordplay, and pulse with insistent rhythm. Her musical instincts are a match for her pen - Annie is a gifted, inventive instrumentalist. Her guitar work is a fresh, welcome interplay of short lead runs and complex picking patterns. (As a teenager in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Annie learned to play listening to records by Doc Watson and blues great Mississippi John Hurt.) Fusing elements of spoken word and poetry with sharp melodies and a trademark delivery, Annie Gallup has created her own musical sub-genre. Swerve is Annie's fifth album and her strongest collection of songs to date. Swerve was recorded at the Theater 99 in New York City on vintage analog equipment. Her band includes Michael Visceglia (Suzanne Vega) on bass, Denny McDermott (Richard Shindell) on drums and Billy Master (Dar Williams) on electric guitar.