As a fan, I've been satisfied with both Big Whiskey AND Away From The World. You can like both, IT'S POSSIBLE!
This site likes to rewrite history and even their own thoughts. For example, nobody is gonna admit how in-demand Shake Me was in 2009 ("Why aren't they playing it?") or how (No, I'm not making this up) Time Bomb had "Seek Up potential" live. You and Me wasn't even hated, just seen as the obvious pop-friendly love song on the album.
I feel that BW gets knocked on far too much here, and people forget how enamored they were with it back in 2009-10. That album has a good punch, a fun vibe and flow to it. I recall seeing "A step in the right direction" being said soooo much around here. The sets being heavy with the songs was no help, you're going to tire of anything that's constant at what's supposed to be an unpredictable show. And I'm sure someone's gonna say people don't get tired of the classics, but if you look back to the archives, people were tired of songs like Tripping Billies and Don't Drink the Water during the 90s. Hell, Too Much is one of my all time favorites and I was gas'd on it at one point, admittedly.
AFTW is terrific, but a tad overpraised. The album starts out on fire with a 3 song run and ends triumphantly on another 3 song run (These 6 songs arguably better than BW on its own), but the middle run of Gaucho through If Only really lulls and drags. The Riff is pretty awesome, but gets caught up in all the middle of this. Rooftop really feels like a revelation after If Only. Much of the album is full of weak choruses, too. Yes, BW had some too but Dave sold them better. The album has more of that classic sound, but it feels like they are reaching a little much and aren't as interested in doing so. Of course, these songs didn't get the overload being played live, so people want them more.
I almost go back and forth on the two albums. I'm sure I'm going to be told I'm wrong by people who were praising and enjoying BW back in 2009. But, its a very good, solid album that gets treated like its a complete dung heap around here.