Sub Pop Records founders Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt once said, “we want to be the Motown of rock.” I can’t remember the exact quote, but it doesn’t really matter.

It’s been a long time since a label set out with the goal to sign like-minded artists who make innovative yet marketable (profitable) music.

Motown had the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5 – the list goes on.

Sub Pop managed to live up to its goal, putting out records by bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Green River (future members of Pearl Jam).

And now, finally, there’s a label continuing in the tradition of Motown’s R&B domination and Sub Pop’s early grunge glory – Santa Monica-based Vagrant Records.

I’ve never really purchased albums based solely on the label they were released under, but Vagrant has blown me away me away lately.

The label has an incredible stable of artists who are ready to make their mark on the music world – if the industry will let them.

Since 1999, Vagrant has released albums by the Get Up Kids, Alkaline Trio, Face to Face, Dashboard Confessional and the Anniversary (who return to the M-Shop April 28). These emotional, punk-influenced bands have been blowing up the indie pop scene recently, and they all have the potential to shake up the mainstream.

In addition to having these great bands, Vagrant recently picked up emotional pop-punk stars Saves the Day.

All of this adds up to a label that could very likely be releasing the next “Nevermind” sometime in the near future. Here are a few of the bands who could (and most definitely should) bring melodic, emotional punk-pop to the radio and national consciousness.

The Get Up Kids

These emo-pop geniuses excited college radio listeners back in 1999 with their first Vagrant release, “Something to Write Home About.” Matt Pryor’s sensitive and bittersweet vocal delivery flows over instantly memorable guitar riffs and the occasional Moog synthesizer.

These kids are definitely solidifying their reign as kings of emo-pop, recently touring with both Green Day and Weezer. The video for “Action and Action,” a single off “Something,” actually received a good amount of airplay on MTV’s “120 Minutes” last year. And now, the band is expanding into side projects such as the `80s electronica and new wave-inspired Reggie and the Full Effect and the quieter, acoustic New Amsterdams.

Saves the Day

Moving from Equal Vision Records to Vagrant after the release of 1999’s “Through Being Cool,” Saves the Day are some of the youngest guys on the label, with an average age right around 19. However, their music is anything but immature. Formed in late 1997, the band has grown up quickly since `98’s “Can’t Slow Down” and found a feverishly devoted fan base.

Their as of yet untitled forthcoming Vagrant release should be out by late spring/early summer, and it will showcase lead vocalist Chris Conley’s unique singing style and sensory-loaded lyricism. They will be headlining a tour in support of the album with Dashboard Confessional and Hot Rod Circuit, making it one of the best club shows of the summer.

Alkaline Trio

In a surprising move, MTV darlings Blink-182 showed some love for Chicago’s Alkaline Trio, inviting the angst-punkers to join them on their massive summer tour. Matt Skikba’s Bob Mould-esque singing is a far cry from what Blink fans are used to, but the Trio have a great opportunity to expand their fanbase as part of the Mark, Tom and Travis show.

Yet another band to recently move to Vagrant, the Trio’s first album on the label comes out tomorrow, and everyone should go pick it up. The songs Vagrant pre-released on their “Another Year on the Streets” compilation (a great introduction to the label and its bands) are amazing, tighter than anything the Trio has put out yet.

Nationwide tours with giant major label acts and highly anticipated albums make this the summer of Vagrant. The Jackson Five, Nirvana, the Get Up Kids – it could happen.

Jon Dahlager is sophomore in journalism and mass communication and sociology from Cottage Grove, Minn. He is assistant arts and entertainment editor of the Daily, but the other assistant, Kyle Moss, gets all the ladies.