I think this song has a more mature AC sound especially with the instrumentation... "White Houses" on the other hand really sounds like it comes from a children's cd (yea, nessa does have a tendency to write songs that might be too "kiddy")
I think everything's ok when Vanessa finds that balance between a more rock oriented sound and a female singer songwriter tone. I think production, instrumentation, and rhythmic complexity in vanessa's line play a big part and I think NOlita covers those areas successfully to reach a more mature audienc.
When i first heard white houses, pyhom, and those linda perry songs they sounded like they came from a children's cd. The harmonic content is too bright. Coupled with rhythmic simplicity in most of these songs, they tend to drift to the "children's realm". I am sincerely hoping they are not on her newest album.