[8] As per usual for the band's music, the lyrical content, in the words of Fortune, "straddles the line between surrealist poet and agitator".

[6] Some reviewers noted constant tonal shifts in the lyrics,[9][10] which go from "daft-but-harmless" to "lines that leave a bitter taste in the mouth", summarized Drowned in Sound.

[8][10][13][15] In a favorable review, Ian King of PopMatters claimed that with He's Got The Whole, "patience, and collaboration continue to focus and invigorate Joan of Arc."

"[8] Under the Radar called it "a slow-grower, worth applying oneself too", reasoning that when it is "stripped of the discord and uncomfortable shock-factor references, the melodic interchanges can be extremely pleasant and directional.

"[10] An AllMusic critic stated that He's Got the Whole "may alienate even some of Kinsella's more patient and open-eared fans, as it sometimes wanders into a slow ramble over repetitive dissonance," but "its impulsive quality may be irresistible to a punkier sensibility, offering catharsis in its deliberate lack of polish and self-censorship.

"[15] Anthony opined that He's Got the Whole did deserve respect for staying committed to an experimental style, but "it's often so obtuse it feels like it's not meant for anyone but its creators.