Album Review: “Wuthering Heights” by Charli xcx

by Shannon Dutra

Wuthering Heights is a strong entry into Charli xcx’s discography and stands on its own as a record and as an album inspired by a novel. Pop music with orchestration isn’t for everyone, but it suits this album well, especially since it draws inspiration from a classic book about love and obsession. The production and many of the lyrics are distinct, thematic, and polished. Some of the tracks on this record sound like Charli xcx’s past work. If you enjoyed her work on True Romance, you will like this record as she revisits some of those sounds on the following tracks.

“House” featuring John Cale
Wuthering Heights opens with a dark, gothic-inspired track. “House” is clearly the introduction and sets the stage for the themes and tone of the rest of the album. John Cale, the founding member of the Velvet Underground, lends his vocals to this track. The result is an ominous but meaningful track. The poetic lyrics are introspective and reflective, commenting on the beauty and the carnage of feeling trapped. As the track continues, the instruments swell and burst. Near the middle, Charli’s vocals enter, and the pair sing the refrain together, “I think I’m gonna die in this house.” The outro is a pulsing beat of triggering sound and loud drums. The lyrics mirror the way the characters of the film trap themselves in the remote estate of Wuthering Heights. Overall, “House” stands on its own. It does not sound like anything on Charli xcx’s last album Brat, or anything else on this album, but that’s part of its appeal.

“Wall of Sound”

This second track shifts the mood. “Wall of Sound” its a bit more upbeat and has lush harmonies. At the center of this track are the lyrics and Charli’s vocals. It’s a simple, short one that stands out for its lyricism. The chorus is particularly beautiful and has a catchy hook that lingers after the track is over: “'Cause every time I try / Talking myself backwards / Away from my desires / Something inside stops me, oh / Every time I try, something inside stops me, yeah / I, I, I, yeah.”

“Dying for You”
“Dying for You” is a propulsive rave anthem reminiscent of the tracks on Brat. The lyrics explore the weight of a relationship and the pull toward someone irresistible. This track is another perfect tie-in to the relationship tension explored in the film. The lyrics in the chorus highlight longing, tenderness, and the pain of devotion: “All the pain and torture that I went through / All makes sense to me now, I was dying for you / I was dying for you, I was dying for you.” The outro, however, is the weakest part. Distorted vocals repeat the lyrics “Pain and torture,” and the experimental feedback here makes it hard to understand.

“Always Everywhere”
“Always Everywhere” is a standout on this record. It is a soft ballad built around breathy, strong vocals and sweeping orchestration. It is instantly immersive as these two things transport the listener to another time. This track also showcases Charli xcx’s mature vocals. Her vocals sound fuller and more in control. The writing is also sharp and emotional: “I can't escape the storm you gave me / Constant lightning in my veins”.  The chorus is strong but could be better: “Always everywhere / Always everywhere / Yeah, you're evеrywhere / Always evеrywhere / Always everywhere / Yeah, you're everywhere.”  While the lyricism on the chorus is a bit weak, this track is still powerful and showcases Charli’s ability to create infectious and poignant pop songs.

“Chains of Love”

“Chains of Love” is another ballad that blends steady vocals with a powerful synth. This track is everything all at the same time: emotional, touching, and heartbreaking. It’s another one that fits the mood of the new film perfectly. The lyrics focus on the possessive pull of love between Cathy and Heathcliff. It also references the destructive, devious passion and revenge that breaks people and their relationships. “Chains of Love” is dark, a bit experimental, but also very electropop, which fans will love.

“Out of Myself”

“Out of Myself” is a thumping track about obsession. The narrator questions the validity of the relationship with a suitor, asking them, “Am I your girl? Push my cheek into the stone.” The lyrics focus on the need for clarity and a willingness to surrender your soul to someone else. This track is pure tense atmosphere with support from glittery violins and pulsing synthesizers.

“Open up”
“Open up” is the shortest track on the record. It’s mostly instrumental and serves as a wonderful interlude between the first and second parts of this album. There are only a few lyrics that loop throughout: “Open up (Open) / Open up (Open).”

“Seeing Things”

This mellow, violin-led track that is another standout on the record. The chorus is particularly strong and catchy: “I think I'm seeing things that are not there (See—, not there) / I think I'm seeing things / I think I’m seeing shadows of your hair (See—, not there) / I think I’m seeing things, I think I'm seeing things, I think I’m seeing things / Keep staring through the glass to find you”. The narrator wants to gain control, but they are haunted by the past. It’s a great reference to the film, but it’s also a track that can stand on its own as another strong example of Charli xcx’s writing.

“Altars”

“Altars” feels a bit slow, but the lyrics are great.

“Eyes of the World” (featuring Sky Ferreira)

The vocals with Sky Ferreira work well together. However, “Eyes of the World” feels a little messy in its production—it starts dreamy but ends loud and messy with drones that undercut the lyrics.

“My Reminder”
A gentle, radio-friendly love track with a propulsive beat and soft lyrics.

“Funny Mouth”

“Funny Mouth” is an industrial-sounding track and features co-writing credits from Joe Keery. At its core, it’s a track about breaking up and making up. In the post-chorus, the lyrics are drowned out and distorted. Sonically, the track starts slow but becomes distorted. This track also has a creepy orchestral vibe that fits the film. It’s a little hard to follow sonically, but the lyricism is good enough on this one to leave you coming back, even if sonic elements aren’t there. There’s a certain gothic, dirty quality to these lyrics that is hard to ignore: “When they come out / Unfunny words from your funny mouth / I take them inside / Are you man enough to compromise?”

Overall, Wuthering Heights is a mature record. The orchestral elements work well with the electro-pop foundation Charli xcx has created on this album. Many of these tracks are elegant and confident. While some of the lyrics fall short and some sonic elements don’t mesh well, the album is strong and deserves a listen. Wuthering Heights stands out as a unique entry into Charli xcx’s discography, showcasing her bold creative choices, vocal growth, and her eye for creating immersive, emotional listening experiences for fans. 

Standouts: “Wall of Sound”, “Always Everywhere”, “Chains of Love”, “Seeing Things”