Written by Lorde and Joel Little, "Buzzcut Season" is an electropop song that features elements from tropical music and discusses the "ridiculousness of modern life.

[7] Gaby Whitehill from Gigwise website called the song a "melancholy affair" and praised the "epic piano laden beat combined with the 16-year-old's haunting vocals.

[9] Writer Michelle Pitiris for Vulture chose "Buzzcut Season" as a highlight from Pure Heroine and compared its sound to French electronic duo Air.

[10] Idolator editor Mike Wass labelled it "another twinkling postcard from the streets of Auckland" but felt that it failed to "capture the attention" like "400 Lux" or "Tennis Court", two other songs from the album.

[16] On 13 November 2013, Lorde performed several songs from Pure Heroine during the Late Show with David Letterman to promote the album, including "Buzzcut Season".