I thought I remembered '96 being more interesting than this set, so I got out my best-of-the-year tape for comparison. A sampling:
Pepper - Butthole Surfers
Popular - Nada Surf
You're One - Imperial Teen
Ladykillers - Lush
You Bowed Down - Elvis Costello
Charmless Man - Blur
Blue - LeAnn Rimes
Rowboat - Johnny Cash
Killing Me Softly - Fugees
Not to mention big hits by No Doubt, Clapton, Oasis...