K-pop has sprouted so many new girl groups lately, it's getting harder and harder to tell them apart. To aid memory, let's just say VINS are the ones not wearing color-splatter clothing, and not likely to participate in the inevitable Mnet rookie sexy dance battle stage. The under-the radar trio has a rather unfortunate name that seemingly abides by some hidden rule that every other female group must have an abbreviated four-character name. VINS also stands for "Voice IN Soul", which is far too similar to male trio V.O.S's "Voice Of Soul" (although "female version of V.O.S" certainly isn't a negative association). Despite the less-than-stellar packaging and promotion for VINS, the group's talent is undeniable, and that's what shines through the most in their debut single album Sensitivity.

There's nothing cute, repetitive, or high-pitched about VINS's first song "Two Letters" (Track 2) - meaning it won't be topping K-pop charts anytime soon - but the song really grows on you with each listen. This gentle mid-tempo ballad belted out strongly highlights the trio's distinctive mix of deep, husky, and wispy vocals that both complement and compete with each other. The song's unstructured melody is difficult to latch on to, leaving the focus on the unique vocal combination that gives the song a distinct sound and style of its own. "Two Letters" also has a lovely string and piano accompaniment that is too often overshadowed by the out-of-place pop beats, which is why I actually like the softer acoustic version (Track 5) of the song more.

I also prefer the acoustic version of Dubeonjjae Heeojim (Track 4), which is similar to "Two Letters" but comes out stronger and more dramatic. The song is completely contemporary K-pop in its beats and melody, but also has a silky old-time aura to it because of the group's deep lounge vocals. The softest track of the album, "Happiness" (Track 3) takes a lighter path with whispery interludes courtesy of Rich, and soothing voices and harmonization over nimble beats.

A solid beginning for a talented group, Sensitivity may not bowl you over on the first listen, but that is the album and the group's appeal in an era of bombastic pop. VINS's deep and husky vocals and more mature sound fall easy on the ears, and ages just fine on replay. Considering that VINS managed to turn average compositions into a memorable debut just by the power of their voices, I am definitely looking forward to hearing more from the promising new trio.