Hot Loser is Veal's first album. The album was released in 1996 in Canada.
Critical reception was generally positive. The album received a mixed review from Allmusic's Gary Hill, who wrote, "At their best, they come across as a new version of Camper Van Beethoven or Cracker." Darren Gawle of Drop-D magazine also wrote a mixed review.
In 2023, the album was made available on streaming services, corresponding to a reunion tour for Veal.