Photograph:Kurt Iswarienko

Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza; Wed 30

The Wayans brothers flick White Chicks got big laughs for joking that Vanessa Carlton wrote “the whitest song ever” with “A Thousand Miles.” The 27-year-old piano-pounder had the last laugh, though: After unexpectedly joining the Inc.’s hip-hop-heavy roster, Carlton bested the latest offerings from her new labelmates Ja Rule and Ashanti with last fall’s superb Heroes & Thieves. Carlton’s unabashedly earnest confessionals aren’t an obvious fit at the Inc., but it’s easy to hear why Irv Gotti signed her. Since 2002’s Be Not Nobody, she’s released an increasingly sophisticated body of work that’s radio-friendly without sounding remotely forced. As proved by singles like “White Houses” and “Nolita Fairytale,” she also consistently makes self-discovery sound like a joyful epiphany.

That giddy sense of wonder permeates Heroes & Thieves. A melodic tour de force and one of 2007’s overlooked gems, Carlton’s third CD is a coming-of-age saga that never gets bogged down in self-pity. Unlike many singer-songwriters, she has a refreshing ability to make even her saddest songs (or, as she’s referred to them in concert, “Debbie Downer” moments) come off like well-earned life lessons. The album is confident, heartbreaking and even funny—exactly how Carlton presents herself onstage, where she comfortably chats with the audience and shares entertaining anecdotes about her songs. Featuring material from throughout her career, tonight’s show should be the latest reminder that Carlton is no punch line; she’s long been a white chick worth taking seriously.