If music is the food of love, then bad music is an all-you-can-eat crap buffet for the senses. Nothing spoils an otherwise splendid bar experience quite like terrible music, whether it’s the fault of a lousy DJ, the owner’s nauseating iPod mix, or the dreaded amateur band night. So escape the clutches of soul-crushing satellite radio streams and create your own nightlife soundtrack at one of these stellar jukebox bars.

Lakeside Lounge
162 Avenue B (10th & 11th Sts.)
East Village 212.529.8463
If the approaching second Depression makes you feel like singing the blues, shuffle on down to the Lakeside Lounge. This East Village dive makes the most out of the neighborhood’s grubby vibe, with a photo booth, raucous live acts, and plenty of young creative types to ogle. But the real attraction is the jukebox stuffed with American rock and blues classics, from Muddy Waters to Elvis Presley, with a few wild cards (Captain Beefheart, T.Valentine’s “Hello Lucille, Are You A Lesbian?”) thrown in for good measure. A few bucks for whiskey and a tolerance for lovesick ballads are all it takes to enjoy this grungy watering hole.


Soda Bar
629 Vanderbilt Ave. (Prospect Pl. & St. Marks Ave.)
Prospect Heights 718.230.8393
Channel your inner angst-ridden teenager at this Prospect Heights standby, where the jukebox is packed with all your dark adolescent favorites, assuming that you came of age during the era of The Cure and The Smiths. Relax with an Arrogant Bastard Ale and some greasy comfort food while you wait for your tracks to play, and take in the adorably antiquated details of this former ice cream parlor. In a stroke of bar-planning genius, a separate TV room ensures that the Giants game won’t drown out your eagerly-anticipated juke picks. Rock on!


Commonwealth
497 5th Ave. (@ 12th St.)
Park Slope 718.768.2040
There are many reasons to love this Park Slope bar, from the loyal neighborhood crowd to the wall of “Brutally Honest Personal Ads.” But the unusually excellent jukebox steals the show. A battered stool allows you to parse the dizzying selection of mix CDs and indie rock favorites in relative comfort while you sip on a Brooklyn draft or one of the bar’s innovative mixed drinks. Fans of Elliott Smith, The Magnetic Fields, and the Pixies won’t be disappointed, but there’s always something new to fall in love with. With songs priced at a supremely affordable 25 cents each, this is also one of the best jukebox deals in town.


Hi-Fi
169 Avenue A (10th & 11th Sts.)
East Village 212.420.8392
When we hear “digital jukebox,” we immediately think of those crappy dive bar eyesores with names like TouchTunes and JukeANator, which can certainly go to hell. But don’t let that dissuade you from checking out the hardware at Hi-Fi, which gives much-needed credibility to the world of digital jukes. Their legendary jukebox, affectionately known as “El DJ,” holds over 3,100 albums, and the collection is growing daily. Rock and roll dominates, but with so many albums, there’s absolutely something for everyone. You can put your DJ skills to the test and save your pennies during Happy Hour (4pm-8pm daily), when Hi-Fi offers two-for-one well drinks, beer, and wine.


Stoned Crow
85 Washington Pl. (6th Ave. & Washington Sq. West)
Greenwich Village 212.677.4022
Going for a drink in Greenwich Village is kind of like going back in time to your college days. With all the NYU kids guzzling pitchers of Bud and Jager shots around you, it’s easy to feel a little, well, old. But the Stoned Crow offers just the right mix of energetic young coeds and older neighborhood denizens, ensuring a vibe that is not too wild and not too sober. It also means that the excellent jukebox carries something for everyone, whether your taste runs to Queen, Metallica, or Radiohead. Tasty pub grub (with burgers courtesy of a Corner Bistro alum), a pool table, and cool vintage movie posters make this a comfy place to settle down for the night, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby.

The Rusty Knot
425 West St. (@ 11th St.)
West Village 212.645.5668
Although it’s a tad bit overhyped as hotspots go, The Rusty Knot is still a fabulous nightspot when you want to feel like somebody. And unlike other trendy hangouts with their thumping sound systems, this place keeps it old school with a classic jukebox. The machine is stocked with the kind of classic rock that incites late-night singalongs: Journey, Boston, and, yes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, are well represented. You might not find that obscure album Pitchfork raved about last month, but after a few rounds, guilty pleasure songs like “Hotel California” are all anyone wants to hear anyway.

Ellis Bar
627 5th Ave. (17th & 18th Sts.)
Park Slope 718.768.0532
South Park Slope’s Ellis Bar may be known for its Southwestern bar food, but it’s also a great place for music lovers to while away a few hours and a pocket full of change. The jukebox, with tracks culled from the owner’s collection, is stuffed with crowd pleasers—chances are, at least a few of your favorite bands are represented—but what sets this awesome jukebox apart is the fact that it’s accompanied by a laminated index you can take to the bar o