See How We Are


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

reviewed the album 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." Trouser Press considers the album superior to its predecessor, Critter on the Road, writing that Alvin contributes "two of his most heart-rending compositions" and generally " the band back to earth, restoring its confidence". They describe the album as a "polished platter cooks on desperate rockers like the lead-off “I’m Lost” then tugs at the heartstrings with “You,” an old-fashioned love lament even non-fans should appreciate." Rob Sheffield, writing in the Spin Alternative [Record Guide], bemoans the "massive loss of sonic energy" resulting from Gilkyson joining the band, and believes "4th of July" is the only good new song, noting that "while the rest of it is competent roots-rock, it's self-pitying gloom without the noisy catharsis of Wild Gift."

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" – 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

  7. "Left & Right" – 2:57
  8. "When It Rains..." – 4:29
  9. "Holiday Story" – 3:36
  10. "Surprise, Surprise" – 2:50
  11. "Cyrano de Berger's Back" – 3:33

    Bonus tracks (2002 reissue)

  12. "Holiday Story" – 4:00
  13. "I'm Lost" – 2:48
  14. "Highway 61 Revisited" – 5:08
  15. "In the Time It Takes" – 3:08
  16. "See How We Are" – 3:57
  17. – 2:06

    Personnel

;X
;Additional personnel