I don't listen to a lot of album music, my exposure to music is usually through video games. My favorite instruments to listen for are the violin and guitar for emotion. I usually prefer the guitar for general pieces (it can afford to be used more often in a game because it feels more subtle and less overbearing) whilst a violin is perfect for pulling at my heart strings and amplifying the climax of an emotional piece. Care that it isn't overused in these cases, though! Of course, I am aware both instruments have various other use cases.