Infallible
Summary
Infallible is one of Lightning Bolt’s longest, most expansive tracks—a Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament collaboration that builds and twists for nearly five-and-a-half minutes while Eddie Vedder sings of “the ill-advised hubris of modern humans” Billboard . The title is ironic: nothing is infallible, and the song explores the dangers of believing otherwise.
Stone Gossard described the track’s layered approach:
“There’s a lot going on in that track. It’s three dimensional, you can really hear each instrument playing.”
— Stone Gossard Billboard
Critics noted the song is “dark but not pitch-black, intricate and soaring”—building and twisting around sonic corners in a way that recalls Pearl Jam’s best work. The rhythm section gives the track “a lumbering might that the band hasn’t explored before” Premier Guitar .
Key Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Album | Lightning Bolt (2013) |
| Track Number | 6 |
| Release Date | October 15, 2013 |
| Duration | 5:21 |
| Writers | Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament (music), Eddie Vedder (lyrics) |
| Producer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Label | Monkeywrench/Republic |
| Live Debut | October 11, 2013, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Live Performances | 22 (per setlist.fm) |
Background & Inspiration
Gossard-Ament Partnership
Gossard and Ament co-wrote the music, continuing a partnership that dates back to their pre-Pearl Jam days in Green River and Mother Love Bone. Their collaborative compositions often have different character than Vedder’s solo writing—more intricate arrangements, different rhythmic sensibilities.
When Gossard and Ament write together, the results tend toward complexity. “Infallible” exemplifies this: nearly five-and-a-half minutes of building dynamics that don’t follow predictable verse-chorus patterns.
Three Dimensional
Gossard’s description—“three dimensional, you can really hear each instrument playing”—speaks to the production approach. Rather than burying elements in the mix, O’Brien gives each instrument distinct sonic space. The result rewards careful listening.
Two-Session Elevation
The album was recorded over two sessions separated by over a year. Gossard noted: “We reacted to that first session, and I think having two to choose from elevated the material” Pearl Jam Community . “Infallible” benefited from this extended process—time to develop its intricate arrangement.
Lyrics & Interpretation
The Hubris Theme
The title is ironic—nothing is infallible, and the song explores “the ill-advised hubris of modern humans.” Vedder’s lyrics address the danger of certainty, the consequences of believing we can’t be wrong.
Tempting Fate
The central lyrical conceit: “By thinking we’re infallible, we are tempting fate instead.” The song suggests that human arrogance—whether technological, political, or personal—invites disaster. Humility isn’t weakness; it’s survival.
State of the World
“Infallible” addresses the broader “state of the world,” joining album tracks that grapple with lasting relationships, bad faith, and life’s transience Wikipedia . Vedder’s concerns are both personal and planetary—individual hubris and collective human arrogance.
Composition & Arrangement
Lumbering Might
Critics noted that the Matt Cameron-Jeff Ament-Stone Gossard rhythm section “gives ‘Infallible’ a lumbering might that the band hasn’t explored before.” The drums and bass create weight rather than speed—a grinding forward motion that suits the song’s thematic heaviness.
Musical specifications:
- Key: A minor
- Tempo: Building, mid-tempo (~105 BPM)
- Time Signature: 4/4
- Duration: 5:21
Modern Edge
The track “builds not with typical PJ mystique, but with an edgier, more modern feel. Guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard have fun with reverb and vibrato.” The guitar tones explore textures beyond Pearl Jam’s usual palette.
Grinding Paranoia
One reviewer noted “a grinding paranoia to the triumphant chorus”—the song doesn’t resolve into simple victory. Even the big moments carry uncertainty, supporting the lyrical theme that certainty itself is dangerous.
Production & Recording
Henson Sessions
Studios: Henson Recording Studios (Los Angeles) Recording Period: Early 2012, March 2013 Producer: Brendan O’Brien
O’Brien’s production allows the track’s “three-dimensionality” to come through. The layered arrangement rewards careful listening, with each instrument occupying distinct sonic space.
Extended Structure
At over five minutes, “Infallible” has room for dynamic shifts and instrumental development. O’Brien’s approach allows the song to build without rushing—the “lumbering might” requires patience to develop.
Critical Reception & Legacy
Dark But Not Pitch-Black
Critics praised “Infallible” as “dark but not pitch-black, intricate and soaring.” The Gossard-Ament collaboration received attention as a highlight of their later-era partnership.
Album Ambition
The song demonstrated Lightning Bolt’s willingness to stretch beyond concise rock—after Backspacer’s brevity, Pearl Jam was willing to let songs breathe again.
Legacy:
- Showcased Gossard-Ament writing partnership
- “Three dimensional” arrangement praised
- “Lumbering might” unlike previous PJ tracks
- Featured reverb/vibrato guitar experimentation
- 22 live performances (2013-2016)
Live Performances
Statistics
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Live Debut | October 11, 2013, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Total Performances | 22 (per setlist.fm) |
| Most Recent | April 21, 2016, Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC |
| Typical Placement | Mid-set, allowing extended structure to develop |
Extended Live Structure
“Infallible” appeared in setlists during the Lightning Bolt touring cycle (2013-2016). Its extended structure gave the band room to stretch out live—the jam-friendly arrangement allowed for improvisation.
Dormant Since 2016
The song hasn’t been performed since 2016, making it one of the rarer Lightning Bolt deep cuts. Its complexity may limit casual inclusion in setlists.
Personnel & Credits
Pearl Jam
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Eddie Vedder | Vocals |
| Stone Gossard | Guitar (songwriter) |
| Mike McCready | Guitar |
| Jeff Ament | Bass (songwriter) |
| Matt Cameron | Drums |
Production Team
| Role | Personnel |
|---|---|
| Producer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Mixer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Mastering | Bob Ludwig |
Fan Theories & Trivia
Green River Legacy
The Gossard-Ament partnership predates Pearl Jam by years—they played together in Green River (1984-1988) and Mother Love Bone (1988-1990). When they collaborate, the results often have different character than Vedder-led compositions.
Album Artwork Connection
The album artwork features a serpent eating its own tail—the ouroboros, representing cycles of self-destruction. Fans connect this to “Infallible“‘s theme: hubris leads to downfall, which leads to more hubris.
Trivia
- Gossard-Ament partnership dates back to Green River (1984)
- Gossard: “three dimensional, you can really hear each instrument playing”
- Features “lumbering might” unlike previous PJ tracks
- Guitarists experiment with reverb and vibrato
- “Grinding paranoia to the triumphant chorus”
- Album recorded in two sessions over a year apart
- Not performed since 2016
Fan Discussions
Active topics on r/pearljam and Pearl Jam Community forums include:
- The distinctive rhythmic feel compared to other PJ songs
- How Gossard-Ament compositions differ from Vedder-led songs
- The “grinding paranoia” in the triumphant chorus
- Album artwork connections to lyrical themes
- Whether the song deserves more live attention
Comparative Analysis
Within Pearl Jam’s Catalog
“Infallible” represents one of Pearl Jam’s most ambitious later-era tracks:
- “Do the Evolution” (Yield): Similar critique of human arrogance
- “Inside Job” (Pearl Jam): Another Gossard-Ament collaboration
- “Present Tense” (No Code): Extended, building arrangement
- “Immortality” (Vitalogy): Thematic questioning of permanence
Gossard-Ament Partnership
Their writing partnership predates Pearl Jam. When they collaborate, the results often have:
- More intricate arrangements
- Different rhythmic sensibilities
- Less confessional, more observational lyrics (from Vedder)
- Extended structures
Album Context
At track 6, “Infallible” begins Lightning Bolt’s more expansive second half. After the title track’s straightforward rock, this demonstrates the album’s range—nearly five-and-a-half minutes of building dynamics, “dark but not pitch-black, intricate and soaring.”