Cyber Monday Local Music Pick - Mike Vial and the Great Lake Effect, 'Where the Sand Meets the Tide'

Mike Vial releases new EP on Cyber Monday

While Black Friday may have been around longer, Cyber Monday is all the rage these days. On Monday, and likely throughout the week, Christmas shoppers will scoop up the deals online. Besides, with no long lines and crazy hours, Cyber Monday is a tad more comfortable than typical shopping drama.

Locally, Howell-based folk-rock group Mike Vial and the Great Lake Effect release their new EP, "Where the Sand Meets the Tide," online on Cyber Monday (Nov. 28). Musically, the collection combines gentle folk with harder-edge pop-rock, utilizing unique chord progressions and relatable lyrics. Songs like "Love & Be Proud" and "Empty Cup" mix folk passages with digestible choruses, molding a sort of brainy folk-pop hybrid that appeals to mainstream fans and indie-tempered listeners. The tracks are entertaining, from-the-heart and stylishly performed.

Sample tracks via the Soundcloud player, below. To purchase, visit Vial's Band Camp site. The set runs $4-- a perfect Cyber Monday deal! What digital music are you planning to download this week?

wherethesandmeetsthetide by MikeVial