“Wuthering Heights” by Charli xcx is a creative retelling of the classic story of “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë. The album was created for the release of the popular movie Wuthering Heights starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie. This album has an intriguing take on exploring the feelings and emotions of the classic book and new movie, and does it in the best way possible.
“Wuthering Heights” is Charli’s 7th album after her revival album “Brat” in 2024 and is very different from the rest of her discography. This album has a very dark and gloomy atmosphere in order to set the mood for the family. Most of Charli xcx’s music is very upbeat and something you would generally hear in a club, but considering “Wuthering Heights” is a tragic story, she uses instruments and her voice to help make listeners feel the drama and seriousness. By using string instruments like violins, guitars, basses, etc. It makes the album feel less upbeat and snappy and rather more dramatic.
The whole album was very unique and out of the ordinary for most pop artists, but it fit absolutely perfectly with the vibe and feel of “Wuthering Heights”. One song that I thought very effectively conveyed emotion was “Chains of Love.” Charli sings about being stuck in a relationship that she can’t escape when she longs to be with someone else. This theme of the song is very clearly stated throughout the song by using the use of her voice and instruments. The orchestral violins in the background give the song a sad feel, and the sound of the violins underneath the synths reflects how she feels stuck where she is. This song also directly relates to parts of the “Wuthering Heights” story. Cathy ends up marrying another man, but she can’t break away from him when what she really wants and yearns for is Heathcliff. This is very impressive for a musician to do because when an artist is tasked with making an album to fit a certain story or vibe, it can be a challenge. But Charli was able to really recognize how “Wuthering Heights” feels and transform it into an album.
Another song that I believed was very good at showing pure emotion was “Open Up.” This song was very short, but the length of the song did nothing to affect the amount of emotion inside of it. The usage of string instruments once again makes the feel of the song calm and ethereal. Charli’s voice isn’t as strong and loud in this song as it is in the rest of the songs, but this is because it helps bring out the sound from the instruments to really make listeners focus on how the instruments make you feel.
Overall, this album, although unique and different, was an amazing album and a great representation of Charli’s skills. The way Charli uses her voice, the instruments do an amazing job at making sure the listener feels the emotions of the song. So, if you are looking for a new album to listen to, this one is worth your time!