Mr. Know IT All - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

Unlike several of Kelly's leaks, which have gone down a more traditional pop-rock road, "Mr. Know It All" has a distinct R&B flavor, showcasing a side to her vocals we haven't seen in a while. As opposed to the "Since U Been Gone" Kelly, the "Mr. Know It All" Kelly sounds softer and more feminine as she sings."

MTV Buzzworthy noting Clarkson's departure from her signature pop rock sound

The song has received mixed to positive reviews. Upon hearing the single, MTV News commented, "The song is an obvious Clarkson joint: feisty and straightforward, with a strong melody and a sing-along chorus." Entertainment Weekly remarked, "We love it too, Kelly. Especially since we’re not the men involved." Billboard stated that "Clarkson's lyrical message may be one of sass and strength (as fans have come to expect from her), but musically, "Mr. Know It All" is a bit softer; instead of rock-focused energy, the single goes midtempo with touches of piano and subtle strings." VH1 reluctantly admitted their positive review, stating "We don’t have to lie. The mid-tempo ballad isn’t our favorite of her tracks, and we wish her vocals were mixed higher, but we dig it nonetheless."

Some of the critics noticed the song's striking resemblance to Alicia Keys' single "Doesn't Mean Anything" and Bruno Mars' single "Just the Way You Are." Music website Popdust focused on its resemblance, remarking "The resemblance is as blatant as that of "Already Gone" and "Halo," but at least those two had the same songwriter (Ryan Tedder). "Mr. Know It All" was written by a collection of non-Smeezingtons, none of whom apparently heard or cared about the resemblance." later adding, "To Clarkson’s credit–and at this point, the track really needs credit–she sells the song with all her considerable vocal worth, and she sounds punchier and more engaged on the verses than she did on much of All I Ever Wanted. The fault lies with the songwriters, not the vocalist." Bill Lamb from About.com rated it four-and-a-half stars out of five and went to praise "the understated vocals with perfect nuance", "the production that wisely gets out of the way of the vocals" and "the words of strength". Lamb also wrote that "Mr. Know It All" features one of the most impressive female pop vocals of 2011. The raspy approach here matches the strength informed by pain of the lyrics of the song. It is a style decision that makes the brief moments of gentle clarity in her voice even more affecting."