[5] Compared to the lush nature setting of Bear Creek,[6] Sonic Ranch is located in the dry, hot Chihuahuan Desert of Texas.

The album's press release indicated the studio was chosen purposely for its "vast desert location", with the songs reflecting its influence.

[8] "Replaced", co-written by Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek, appears on the album in its original demo recording.

[12] Upon release, the song was awarded the "Best New Track" distinction by Pitchfork, with Quinn Moreland calling it "a towering statement from a group constantly leapfrogging over themselves.

[16] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent gave the album a perfect 5-star rating, deeming it the band's "best to date, and undoubtedly one of the best of the year.

"[18] Marcy Donelson of AllMusic wrote, "While it's hard to talk about Two Hands in 2019 without the context of the stunning U.F.O.F., the album's quality stands on its own, offering its own grade of intimacy, sound, and feel for alternate moods.

"[10] David Sackllah of Consequence of Sound wrote, "Capping one of the strongest years a rock band has had in a while, this stands as a crowning achievement, the perfect record to close out a tumultuous decade and lead into one where the damage may be irreversible.