Courtside Drunk guys unable to read Pearl Jam lyrics, big women belting out dance anthems and indie rock kids who would get beat up by these people if they weren't so reverent for the art themselves: This place is as authentic as karaoke gets. They fire up the machine every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, and have a book of songs bigger than whatever it is you're currently not reading for class. Plus, 13 bucks gets you a pitcher of PBR and a large pizza.
Highlight on a recent night: When half the crowd unabashedly got up to dance to a startlingly accurate interpretation of Miami Sound Machine's "Conga."
Metro sang: "Born to Run."
291 Cambridge St., Cambridge. | MBTA: Green Line to Lechmere. 617-547-4374
www.courtsidekaraoke.com

The Milky Way The Milky Way alternates between Super Star Karaoke, which features the biggest book that side of the Charles, and Rock Star Karaoke, where you get to temporarily lead a band of live musicians through some of your favorite bar rawk hits. We recommend the latter, if you have ever wondered if you should start a band, but you'll have to wait until the Tuesday after next. They had Rock Star Karaoke last night. (Sorry you missed it. We had fun.)
Highlight on a recent night: Listening to a student from the New England Conservatory struggle with "Time After Time."
Metro sang: "Rebel Yell."
403-405 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. | MBTA: Orange Line to Stony Brook. 617-524-3740
www.milkywayjp.com

Charlie's Kitchen Although Charlie's attracts a similar crowd, and holds court on Tuesday, the same night as the Milky Way, the two are as different as the karaoke scene in "Boys Don't Cry" and the karaoke scene in "Lost in Translation." (All right, so they're not that different.) Charlie's features a younger crowd than most places, and most of the performers are really entertaining. In other words, you won't need to bring your sympathy applause with you.
Highlight on a recent night: Regular performer Hiroshi Kameyama's temple-popping self-created medley of "Whole Lotta Rosie/Rock 'n' Roll."
Metro sang: "Hot Blooded"
10 Eliot St., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. 617-492-9646

Limelight This place is almost blasphemous to the karaoke tradition, because it tries to put a cool face. The host talks like a VJ, the prompter screens are state-of-the-art, the song catalog is a digital touchscreen, and the singers are usually really good looking. This doesn't mean they're good singers, but they look good, which historically goes a long way in rock n' roll. Limelight also has private rooms, singing lessons(!) and recording facilities. The private studio rooms are open throughout the week, and the main stage is open from Thursday through Saturday nights.
Highlight on a recent night: Some dude heckling the host for looking like Justin Guarini after being scolded for writing down the incorrect song code.
Metro sang: "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
204 Tremont St., Boston. | MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 617-423-0785
www.limelightboston.com