Editing Kansas (band) (section)

== Musical style and influences ==
Kansas's musical style, a fusion of [[hard rock]], [[southern rock]], and [[progressive rock]],<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hwnXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT81 |page=81 |title=Citizens of Hope and Glory: The Story of Progressive Rock |last=Lambe |first=Stephen |publisher=Amberley Publishing |date=2012 |isbn=9781445607375}}</ref> was influenced by several bands. The music of [[Yes (band)|Yes]] and [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] was inspirational to Kansas, especially demonstrated in the lyrics of Walsh.<ref name=Larkin2011>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA540 |page=540 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |publisher=Omnibus Press |date=2011 |isbn=9780857125958}}</ref> Livgren cited the 1960s band [[Touch (1960s band)|Touch]] as foundational to his development.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UIqkCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT28 |page=28 |title=Prog Rock FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Rock's Most Progressive Music |last=Romano |first=Will |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |date=2014 |isbn=9781617136207}}</ref> Livgren's evolving spirituality is reflected in the band's songs, with early works showing an interest in the mysticism of [[Eastern religions]], works in the late 1970s influenced by the American spiritual philosophy of ''[[The Urantia Book]]'', followed in the early 1980s by works embracing born-again Christianity.<ref>Romano 2014, p. 141</ref> The re-formed band produced a harder [[pop metal]] album in the late 1980s.<ref name=Legends/><ref name=Larkin2011/> In addition to British progressive rock, Jason Ankeny of [[AllMusic]] noted the apparent influence from American [[heartland rock]] also present in Kansas' work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kansas Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More {{!}} Al... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kansas-mn0000303626#biography |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>