JUDGE FOR YOURSELF: “Christmas Tree,” with none other than Billy Bob Thornton

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF: Our favorite Inland Empire rockers, Judge Jackson, for whom HITS' own J.J. Garcia thumps the tubs, have recorded a funky, new holiday classic, “Christmas Tree,” with none other than Billy Bob Thornton. The band’s Todd McTavish wrote the lyrics and Lee Jackson the music for the chestnut, which was produced by Grammy winner Jim Mitchell (Guns N’ Roses, Black Crowes) at Billy Bob’s Beverly Hills home studio, The Cave, which Mitchell originally designed and built for Slash. McTavish and  Jackson also play on the track, while Thornton takes a break from his band the Boxmasters to provide vocals and percussion. The track is also included in the XO Publicity compilation XO for the Holidays Volume III. Listen to it here. (12/17p)