It sounds like the dumbest, stupidest thing possible. In fact, everything about The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas covering a Christmas song that originated from the above Saturday Night Live skit sounds like the tragic, hackneyed, post-sell-out awfulness. Needless to say, it’s hard not to be skeptical. But the truth of how good this performance was, to go light on the hyperbole, is a complete shock.

The Casablancas snarl, The Roots backing him, the late-show Christmas appearance, the SNL-in-joke, the sunglasses intact, all of it. It’s genius. The single can be bought on iTunes here.

If Julian Casablancas can do manically jaded and fucked up while singing a Christmas song (that came from an SNL skit) in the most sell-out sore territory of them all – Fallon’s show – the Strokes might be worth another look after all, less I forget what made me like them in the first place: the piss and the vinegar, the “take it or leave it” spirit.