Toronto's Scott Downes has been busy over the last decade. He's released several albums with the bands blue moon and iris ; now, he's stepping out with a new solo project, Thirty Cent Fare . Compared to those projects' respective jangle and haziness, "Split the Ceiling" is as bright as the noontime sun. A pop punk-flavored jolt of caffeine is flowing through the veins of this song. Downes' guitars are gleaming as they dash in and out of the percussive backdrop. A sharp and unambiguous lyrical direction pairs well with the bouncing rhythms. Some of the first lyrics — "Hi, how are you? / I miss you again" — summarize the core ideas in only a handful of words. The inevitable clinging to the past that comes in the dissolving of a relationship is a relatable haunt for most people. Downes splits the difference between that clinging and the forward momentum that comes from letting go. By the end of "Split the Ceiling" it seems that Downes has...