See How We Are Explained

See How We Are
Type:	Studio album
Artist:	X
Cover:	XSeeHowWeAre.jpg
Released:	1987
Recorded:	1987
Studio:	Rumbo Recorders (Los Angeles)
Genre:	Rock
Length:	37:30
Label:	Elektra
Producer:	Alvin Clark
Prev Title:	Ain't Love Grand!
Prev Year:	1985
Next Title:	Live at the Whisky a Go-Go
Next Year:	1988

See How We Are is the sixth studio album by American rock band X, released in 1987 by Elektra Records. It was their first album without founding guitarist Billy Zoom, who was replaced by ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin for the album's recording sessions and some live shows. Alvin left X on good terms and was replaced by Tony Gilkyson.

It was reissued with five bonus tracks by Rhino in 2002.

"4th of July" appeared on the TV show The Sopranos, where it was played in the end credits to the 2006 episode "Live Free or Die".

Critical reception

Robert Christgau gave the album a lukewarm review in his 1987 "Consumer Guide" column for The Village Voice:

Rolling Stone wrote that X "adjusts to the challenge of guitarist Billy Zoom's departure by tightening up, discarding the gratuitous poetics of some of its lyrics and stating its case as succinctly as it has since its 1982 signpost, Wild Gift."^[1]

Track listing

All tracks written by Exene Cervenka and John Doe except as indicated.

Side 1

1. "I'm Lost" – 2:55
2. "You" – 3:28
3. "4th of July" (Dave Alvin) – 3:32
4. "In the Time It Takes" – 3:09
5. "Anyone Can Fill Your Shoes" – 2:45
6. "See How We Are" – 3:46

Side 2

1. "Left & Right" – 2:57
2. "When It Rains..." – 4:29
3. "Holiday Story" – 3:36
4. "Surprise, Surprise" – 2:50
5. "Cyrano de Berger's Back" (John Doe) – 3:33

Bonus tracks (2002 reissue)

1. "Holiday Story" (Demo/Remix) – 4:00
2. "I'm Lost" (Demo/Remix) – 2:48
3. "Highway 61 Revisited" (Bob Dylan) (Outtake/Rough Mix) – 5:08
4. "In the Time It Takes" (Demo/Remix) – 3:08
5. "See How We Are" (Demo/Remix) – 3:57
6. (untitled hidden track) – 2:06

Personnel

X

• D.J. Bonebrake – drums, percussion
• Exene Cervenka – vocals
• Tony Gilkyson – guitars
• John Doe – vocals, bass

Additional personnel

• Dave Alvin – guitar, six-string bass
• Benmont Tench – Hammond organ, Casiotone

Charts

Chart!scope="col"

Peak	Date	Duration
Billboard 200^[2]	107	July 31, 1987	11 weeks

Notes and References

1. Guterman . Jimmy . X See How We Are . . Oct 8, 1987 . 510 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214103/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/x/albums/album/259588/review/6212743/see_how_we_are . 2007-09-27 .
2. X . April 30, 2020 . Billboard.