song: "Flowers + Tea" - Baseball Dad

Despite the emotional weight of its subject matter, “Flowers + Tea,” the lead single from Baseball Dad’s new EP feels limitless. On January 31, the Pittsburgh foursome will release its new EP January, and this first single is a beautiful, unflinchingly honest look at how mental illness can negatively impact relationships.

Led by the warmth of vocalist and uke player Hal McDonough, “Flowers + Tea” reiterates the constant apologies that often come with having a mental illness. Aside from a closing of sorry, McDonough offerings a harrowing glance into what his individual worst moments feel like, setting a visual stage with the opener — “I sit in the/tub smoking/candles burning/I think of how I/did you wrong/I am/so sorry.” Backed by surprisingly delightful stings and a touch of percussion, McDonough contemplates the process of making it better, and whether “Flowers + Tea” should be part of the apology equation. It’s a beautiful and boppy glimpse at the record, with Baseball Dad’s willingness to share the darkest and deepest parts of their emotional struggle coming off as tender, heartfelt, and immediately unforgettable.