INTERVIEWSSPIN Picks the Best Artists & Music of 2010

For the cover story of our 2010 Year in Music issue, we decided to spread the praise among three - technically four - artists who made tremendous impressions in the past 12 months and who had never graced a SPIN cover before: James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, and Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys.

The accompanying feature stories capture the subjects at a unique moment in time, as they take stock of their breakout year and begin to plot their next moves. And they're just a few highlights of an issue that aims to celebrate achievement while, okay, poking a little fun at it all.

Get a taste here:

• LCD Soundsystem
• Florence + the Machine
• The Black Keys

More of the Best of 2010:

• 40 Best Albums
• 20 Best Songs
• 10 Best Albums You Might Have Missed
• Top Artists Pick Their Favorite Music of the Year